Why this AI travel company is bringing Sonder back from the dead

John Lyotier, CEO of TravelAI, said one challenge will be communicating to customers that it's not the same Sonder that chaotically shuttered last year. TravelAI Sonder's brand name and website were acquired by a Canadian AI travel company. TravelAI CEO John Lyotier said the Sonder brand name still has value with travelers. Sonder abruptly shuttered and filed for bankruptcy in November, leaving customers stranded. Sonder is back. Sort of. TravelAI, a Canadian AI travel company, announced Monday it purchased the Sonder brand and relaunched Sonder.com. The deal did not include Sonder properties or its operating business. Sonder, which operated boutique hotels and short-term rentals, filed for bankruptcy and shuttered its operations in November after hotel giant Marriott International abruptly ended its partnership with the Airbnb rival. Guests were forced to vacate properties mid-stay, while employees were left without jobs overnight.