Corporate Gossip [Patreon Exclusive] Sonder: It's official, everything's a scam now :)
5 snips
Nov 15, 2025 Travelers are caught off guard as the hospitality startup Sonder abruptly locks guests out of their hotel rooms, leaving chaos in its wake. Executives, seemingly in disarray, ignore frantic customer concerns while Marriott's minimal support adds to the frustration. The discussion connects Sonder's downfall to historical failures like Wow Air, unveiling deeper issues of cash mismanagement and an overreliance on venture capital. Employee accounts reveal a shocking lack of communication from leadership, painting a stark picture of corporate mismanagement.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Guests Evicted Mid-Stay
- Travelers returned to bagged rooms and cancelled reservations after Sonder suddenly couldn't honor bookings.
- Guests found their stuff packed and were left stranded in cities like Paris, London, New York, and Philadelphia.
Refunds Didn’t Solve The Problem
- Guests who booked via Marriott saw refunds but faced much higher replacement costs.
- Many callers to Sonder received automated responses in foreign languages and no timely help.
Company Blames Marriott And Files Bankruptcy
- Sonder executives publicly blamed Marriott after the licensing agreement ended on November 9.
- CEO Janice Sears announced bankruptcy the next day and pointed to integration and booking issues.