The Sonder brand enters a new chapter: TravelAI, headquartered in Vancouver, announced on Monday (July 27) that it has acquired Sonder's brand and intellectual property, including its trademarks and domain names. The news was released through a press release shared with Hotel Dive.

According to the press release, the acquisition does not include "Sonder's operating business, including its properties, leases, inventory, or employees." This move follows Sonder's split from Marriott International in November 2025 and its subsequent bankruptcy filing.

The acquisition reimagines Sonder.com as a "curated, AI-powered guide," driven by "the memory infrastructure that TravelAI is building for the travel industry." This infrastructure collects users' tastes, preferences, and history over time, rather than starting from scratch. The website went live on July 27.

The new Sonder offers travelers a selection of curated boutique hotels and urban stays in major cities worldwide, based on design, community atmosphere, and quality standards, according to the press release.

"Sonder earned something rare: a memorable name and a trusted standard of taste," said John Lyotier, co-founder and CEO of TravelAI, in a statement. "Old Sonder's technology lived in door locks; now it lives in discovery, memory, and AI-driven personalization."

TravelAI is a Canadian AI-driven travel technology platform, operating as UpNext Ventures Inc. and its subsidiaries. UpNext Ventures acquired Sonder's brand assets after Sonder filed for bankruptcy under Canada's Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, with the transaction completed by the court-appointed Canadian estate trustee.

Following Sonder's bankruptcy, serviced apartment company Kasa and other hotel companies have taken over some of Sonder's properties.

Marriott initially signed a long-term licensing agreement with Sonder in August 2024, adding thousands of Sonder rooms to its portfolio, a move that was expected to provide relief to Sonder's stakeholders amid previous legal and financial difficulties.