Woman’s Dream New York Marriott Stay Canceled After Sonder Partnership Ends: ‘We Were Completely Blindsided By This’
UNITED STATES – A traveler’s dream holiday trip to New York City has turned into a travel nightmare after the sudden collapse of Sonder, a short-term rental company that had partnered with Marriott-Bonvoy. The fallout has left travelers across the country blindsided by canceled hotel reservations and skyrocketing replacement costs ahead of the holiday season.
Woman’s Holiday Booking Suddenly Canceled
TikTok user Katie Newton (@ktbrooke97) shared her experience in a viral video that’s been viewed more than 385,000 times, explaining how her long-awaited New York trip was derailed.
“Our New York City hotel reservation just got canceled,” she said. “We were supposed to be staying with the Marriott through Sonder, and they just canceled their partnership together. Now, we’re left without a hotel.”
Newton said she and her family had planned their holiday getaway for months, but with only three weeks’ notice, most available hotels in the city now cost hundreds more per night. “My dream trip is gonna be ruined,” she said. “We’re gonna have to cancel everything, and I just don’t know what to do.”
In comments across other videos, users noted that while hotel rooms in New York remain available, prices have skyrocketed during the holiday rush, making rebooking nearly impossible for many.
Sonder’s Bankruptcy Sparks Travel Chaos
Sonder, once a rising name in the short-term rental industry, announced on November 10, 2025, that it would be winding down operations and filing for Chapter 7 liquidation. Just one day prior, Marriott-Bonvoy terminated its partnership with the company, effectively voiding all outstanding reservations made through the platform.
Guests who had booked Marriott properties via Sonder have been informed that their reservations are no longer valid. While some received refunds, others are reporting nonfunctional customer service lines and unresponsive support channels.
According to reports from The New York Times, affected travelers were directed to call Sonder’s assistance number — but many said the line was already disconnected. Marriott guests who relied on Sonder’s booking network have flooded Reddit’s r/Marriott forum with complaints of being evicted mid-stay or denied room access without prior notice.
One post read, “Being asked to leave immediately during peak season in NYC where prices are sky high… We had a long-term booking, and now we’re being kicked out halfway through.”
Employees Say They Were Left in the Dark
Adding to the chaos, alleged former Sonder employees have come forward online, claiming they too were blindsided by the company’s sudden shutdown.
“Many of us didn’t even hear from corporate,” one employee wrote. “Guests came up to us showing canceled reservations on their phones before we even knew what was happening.”
Another post detailed how corporate staff received termination emails with no prior warning. “We got an email saying, ‘Thanks for your service. Here’s a link to the unemployment website,’” one message read. “No leadership messages, no explanation — nothing.”
Industry analysts say Sonder’s collapse could mark the largest short-term rental failure in recent years, raising questions about oversaturation and unstable partnerships between travel tech firms and major hotel brands.
@ktbrooke97 Replying to @Rachel tik tok please help!! Has anyone had a last minute hotel cancellation like this?! I’m devastated and don’t know what to do 😭😭 #nyc #marriott #newyorkcity #hotels #sonder we booked through @Hotels.com and really hoping they pull through here
Travelers Urged to Double-Check Bookings
With the holiday season underway, experts are urging travelers to verify all hotel and rental bookings directly with the property or brand before departure. Sudden shutdowns, partnership terminations, and third-party issues can easily lead to unexpected cancellations.
Consumers are also advised to book through verified hotel websites rather than intermediaries, to ensure refund eligibility if a company ceases operations.
Sonder’s abrupt closure has not only stranded guests but also left hundreds of employees jobless, signaling deeper instability in the post-pandemic travel market.
For Illinois residents planning winter travel, this story serves as a reminder to double-check all reservations and keep emergency alternatives ready before heading to major destinations.
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