Full-Time
Posted on 8/25/2025
Managed mobile-first short-term rentals
$68k/yr
Company Does Not Provide H1B Sponsorship
Washington, DC, USA
In Person
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Sonder is a hospitality company that rents and manages its own short-term properties, combining hotel-like amenities with the comfort of home. Guests book stays through a mobile app, check in digitally, and can add services such as late checkout or fresh towels. The properties range from single rooms to lofts and can be booked for short or longer stays, with revenue coming from the rental fees. Unlike platforms that rely on individual homeowners, Sonder leases and manages its own units to keep a consistent standard across locations. The company also integrates each property with its neighborhood by offering curated local guides and highlighting architectural and cultural features, creating a more immersive experience. Its goal is to provide a reliable, mobile-first hospitality experience that blends hotel convenience with home comfort at diverse, culture-rich locations.
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
Founded
2012
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Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Flexible Vacation
Wellness Program
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Workplace Flexibility
Prism acquires 10 Sonder properties for U.S. Belvilla expansion. Photo Credit: The Dutch Hotel Long Island City New York. Prism Comprehensive Summarization: Belvilla, a European vacation rental company owned by Prism, has entered the U.S. market by acquiring 10 properties from Sonder through bankruptcy court proceedings. Out of these, three properties are already operational: The Dutch and Court Square in Long Island City, Queens, New York, and The Louie Hotel in New Orleans. These properties are operating under Belvilla's upscale urban brand, Belvilla District 6. Currently, Belvilla's U.S. website does not offer bookings, but the properties are live on Oyo's booking platform with the original property names tagged. This acquisition marks Belvilla's expansion into the U.S. vacation rental market, leveraging its upscale urban brand to cater to a professional audience seeking high-end urban accommodations. Key Points: * Belvilla, a European vacation rental company, has acquired 10 properties from Sonder in the U.S. bankruptcy court proceedings. * Three of these properties are already operational: The Dutch and Court Square in Long Island City, Queens, New York; The Louie Hotel in New Orleans; and are operating under Belvilla's upscale urban brand, Belvilla District 6. * Belvilla's U.S. website does not yet offer bookings, but the properties are live on Oyo's booking platform with the original property names tagged. * The acquisition signifies Belvilla's expansion into the U.S. vacation rental market, targeting a professional audience with its upscale urban brand. Actionable Takeaways: * Market Expansion Opportunity: Belvilla's acquisition of Sonder properties presents a significant opportunity for market expansion in the U.S. vacation rental sector. This move allows Belvilla to leverage its upscale urban brand, Belvilla District 6, to attract a professional clientele seeking high-end accommodations in urban settings. The strategic acquisition of three operational properties in key locations - Long Island City, Queens, New York, and New Orleans - underscores the potential for Belvilla to capture a substantial share of the U.S. market, particularly among business travelers and urban dwellers looking for premium rental options. * Leveraging Distribution Channels: The transition of Belvilla's properties to Oyo's booking platform, despite the absence of a dedicated U.S. website, highlights the importance of leveraging existing distribution channels. This approach can accelerate market entry and customer acquisition by tapping into Oyo's established user base. For travel tech startups and fintech companies, this case underscores the value of strategic partnerships and leveraging third-party platforms to overcome initial market entry barriers. It also suggests a trend towards integrating multiple booking platforms to maximize visibility and accessibility for vacation rental properties. Contextual Insights: The acquisition of Sonder properties by Belvilla reflects broader trends in the travel industry, particularly the increasing interest in upscale urban accommodations. As professionals increasingly seek premium experiences in urban environments, the demand for high-end vacation rentals is on the rise. This trend is supported by recent insights from industry thought leaders who emphasize the growing preference for unique, location-driven stays over traditional hotel stays. Furthermore, the strategic use of distribution channels like Oyo illustrates the evolving landscape of travel tech, where partnerships and integrations play a crucial role in market penetration. As the industry continues to innovate, startups and established players alike are exploring ways to enhance customer experience through technology and strategic acquisitions, positioning themselves to capitalize on the evolving preferences of modern travelers. Stay ahead with travel trade today - AI news that matters. Get curated travel AI insights - choose the newsletters that matter to you. Choose your newsletters: Join thousands of travel leaders. Unsubscribe anytime.
Marriott incurred a $23 million loss from terminating its contract with luxury short-term rental company Sonder in November, the hotel chain disclosed during its earnings call on Tuesday. The charges comprised termination expenses and the write-down of Marriott's licensing agreement with Sonder. Finance chief Leeny Oberg described it as a one-time expense. The November breakup left guests scrambling for alternative accommodation after receiving short notice to vacate Sonder properties. Guests reported confusion over Marriott's refund policy, whilst Sonder employees said they learnt about job losses from news reports. Sonder subsequently filed for Chapter 7 liquidation proceedings in Delaware bankruptcy court. Despite the setback, Marriott reported strong quarterly results, with revenue rising 4% year-on-year to $6.69 billion. Its stock increased 8.5% following the earnings announcement.
Boston guests left without rooms as Sonder shutters rentals nationwide. The short-term rental company that operated three properties in Boston abruptly shut down, leaving customers stranded. The San Francisco-based short-term rental and boutique hotel company Sonder abruptly shut down operations Sunday as it prepares to file for bankruptcy, leaving guests and employees scrambling. The Airbnb rival operated three properties in Boston - two in the Back Bay and one in Fenway. On Monday, Sonder announced it was "winding down operations immediately" as it was preparing to file for bankruptcy following financial struggles tied to its Marriott partnership. According to the company's 2024 annual report, Sonder launched in 2014. As of Dec. 31, 2024, the company had over 9,000 units across 41 cities and nine countries. The company had 704 employees in the U.S. and 717 employees located in 13 other countries. The company also plans to initiate insolvency proceedings in the other countries in which it operates. Over the past several years, the company said it has struggled to gain traction in a highly competitive market, resulting in net losses and negative cash flow each year since its inception. The annual report said that the company had accumulated a deficit of $1.6 billion by the end of 2024. In the Monday announcement, Sonder said it was facing "severe financial constraints" stemming from challenges integrating its systems and booking platform with Marriott International. The statement followed Marriott's decision a day earlier, on Nov. 9, to terminate its licensing agreement with the company. Sonder first partnered with Marriott in August 2024 and completed the integration of its listings onto Marriott's digital channels by June 2025.
Sonder closes its philly rental properties as it abruptly goes out of business. The San Francisco-based company lost its bookings deal with Marriott over the weekend, and then announced bankruptcy plans. Sonder closed its Philadelphia rental properties, including the Witherspoon Apartments, after it abruptly went out of business Monday. Several Philadelphia rental properties are closing due to Sonder abruptly going out of business Monday - one day after Marriott International terminated its licensing deal with the company. Sonder offered short-term rentals at boutique hotel and apartments in more than 40 cities worldwide. Last year, Sonder and Marriott agreed to integrate their booking arrangements and systems. But Marriott said Sunday that Sonder properties no longer were available for booking, because the company had defaulted. On Monday, Sonder said "prolonged challenges" in its integration process with Marriott contributed to its financial constraints. The San Francisco-based company said it planned to filed for bankruptcy and liquidate its assets. Neither Sonder nor Marriott responded to questions about the exact Philadelphia properties this affected, and their websites no longer list properties available to book. But as of Monday, TripAdvisor listed four properties where Sonder bookings could be made: - The Arco, 1234 Locust St. - Sonder The Witherspoon Apartments Center City, 130 S. Juniper St. - The Queen Hotel Queen Village, 628 S. Fifth St. - The Edison, 312 N. Second St. Guests at The Witherspoon were told they had 24 hours to leave the premises, 6ABC reported. Future guests were encouraged to reach out to Marriott for refunds. A sign posted to its front door notified people of its closure. It reads "This Sonder Property is now closed. All operations have ceased as of November 10th 2025. If you have an active reservation for this property, please contact Marriott Customer Care at 1-800-535-4028. We sincerely apologize for the disruption and thank you for understanding." No such sign was posted at The Arco, which sits a couple blocks away. Similar scenes played out elsewhere in the country, too. One traveler who had booked a 10-night stay at a Sonder hotel in New York City told CNBC that the entire building was asked to vacate by 9 a.m. Monday. "People were scrambling to leave before they locked down the building," she said. Sonder, which once was viewed as a competitor to Airbnb, plans to file for Chapter 7 liquidation of its U.S. businesses. In a statement, the company said it made "comprehensive efforts" to evaluate alternatives to liquidation, including a sale of its business and operations, in an effort to boost its financial standing. "We are devastated to reach a point where a liquidation is the only viable path forward," Janice Spears, interim CEO of Sonder, said in a statement. "Unfortunately, our integration with Marriott International was substantially delayed due to unexpected challenges in aligning our technology frameworks, resulting in significant, unanticipated integration costs, as well as a sharp decline in revenue arising from Sonder's participation in Marriott's Bonvoy reservation system."
Sonder Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: SOND) (“Sonder” or the “Company”) today announced a series of actions to raise additional liquidity. Issued and sold $24.54 mil...