US: Next-generation lodging company Sonder has announced that it has launched on the Global Distribution System [GDS] and that it is now partnered with a number of high-profile travel management companies [TMCs] and consortia, including Egencia and TripActions, among other partners.
Kristen Richter, vice president of sales at Sonder, said: “Sonder’s launch on the GDS and partnership with leading TMCs is an important step in our expansion into business travel. We know that many travellers getting back on the road for business are prioritising self-contained spaces with an added level of privacy that feels removed from the crowds.
“Sonder’s tech-enabled experience, with seamless check-in and 24/7 concierge services through the tap of a button, delivers exactly that. We’re confident that our flexible, comfortable spaces — all at an exceptional value — are what global businesses are searching for as business travel starts to return,” she added.
Founded in 2014, Sonder offers a variety of flexible accommodation options, ranging from individual hotel rooms to full apartments for one-night or multi-day stays. It operates in more than 35 markets and nine countries, including business hubs such as New York City, London, Dubai, Dallas, Toronto and Philadelphia.
Business travellers and groups booking long-term stays through Sonder will be able to request early check-in or late check-out directly from their phones via an app-driven experience, as well as receive instant guest support through the company’s 24/7 concierge service.
TripActions chief travel officer Daniel Finkel said: “As travellers get back on the road, the global businesses we work with are prioritising safe, comfortable accommodation solutions for their employees. Sonder’s next-generation model is uniquely positioned to provide the types of stays that our customers and their travellers are looking for.”
Sonder’s launch on the GDS and its partnerships with leading TMCs is an indication of its commitment to accommodating corporate travellers around the world, three months after the company announced plans to be publicly listed through a SPAC merger with Gores Metropoulos II.
The merger, will will allow Sonder to capitalise on further opportunities within the growing $800+ billion global lodging market, by investing in technology, expanding its footprint and product offering, and delivering greater value to its real estate partners. The combined technology-driven hospitality company is then expected to have a pro forma enterprise value of $2.2 billion and over $700 million of net cash at closing.
It is envisaged that the transaction will close in the second half of 2021.
