Sonder Holdings Inc. Expands Canadian Operations With New Properties in Montreal and Toronto
Tech-enabled hospitality provider grows to almost 1,000 live and contracted units across three cities
SAN FRANCISCO & MONTREAL - Sonder Holdings Inc. (“Sonder”), a leading next-generation hospitality company that is redefining the guest experience through technology and design, increased its footprint in Canada in 2021, by opening new properties and contracting hundreds of additional units across Montreal and Toronto.
In Montreal, Sonder recently opened the Sonder Saint Paul, a 20-unit hotel in a heritage building in Old Montreal, as well as the Sonder Maisonneuve, a 157-unit new-build property, located in the heart of downtown Montreal. Sonder Maisonneuve hosts fully-equipped studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom suites, all with balconies, in-suite laundry and kitchens. Guests also have access to amenities including a rooftop pool, sauna, and gym.
Sonder currently operates over 385 units across the city in neighborhoods such as Griffintown and the Plateau and has over 270 additional contracted units across two other properties, including the old Board of Trade building on Saint-Sacrement.
The company, originally founded in Montreal, has also established an additional decision-making centre for its global operations in the city and plans to add hundreds of positions into its corporate office on Viger Street.
“We’re thrilled to be working with a well-capitalized and reliable partner such as Sonder. Their proven, innovative hospitality model is driving a global guest experience that we feel is the future of hospitality and that was started and built right here in Montreal,” said Richard Rumpf, Vice President of Prime Properties, premier provider of design driven spaces for contemporary needs and the owner of multiple Sonder-operated properties in Montreal.
Sonder also continues to expand in Toronto, the largest city in Canada, and recently contracted over 110 units in four additional locations, spread across desired neighborhoods such as the St. Lawrence Market and the Entertainment District. These units are in addition to the over 120 live units across five existing Sonder locations in Toronto.
“Canadian cities are international destinations that provide a great mix of contemporary apartment-style and hotel properties that work well in our portfolio,” said Martin Picard, Co-Founder and Global Head of Real Estate at Sonder. “Our offering is oriented towards the modern traveler and emerging traveler subsets such as digital nomads. We look for properties located close to cultural or travel destinations and that are well-suited to design-forward, tech-enabled experiences. While Sonder is a global company now, our roots are in Canada and we plan to continue to grow our presence across the country.”
The company also operates a 66-unit property in the West End of Vancouver and is exploring expansion opportunities in Ottawa, Quebec City, Calgary, Banff and Victoria.
Headquartered in San Francisco, Sonder operates in 35+ cities across ten countries, and has over 16,000 live and contracted units worldwide. The company partners with real estate owners and landlords to manage and operate hotels and multifamily buildings. Sonder distinguishes itself in the hospitality industry through applying forward thinking design and infusing technology into its properties and guest experience. This tech-enabled experience puts guests in full control of their stay. They can access everything they need – from booking, to interacting with guest services, to check-out – via their own mobile device from anywhere and at any time, using the Sonder app.
Business Combination with Gores Metropoulos II
Sonder recently announced that the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on July 7, 2021, as amended by Amendment No. 7 filed on December 20, 2021, was declared effective on December 22, 2021. The Registration Statement was filed in connection with the proposed business combination of Sonder and Gores Metropoulos II, Inc. (Nasdaq: GMII, GMIIW, and GMIIU). A special meeting of Gores Metropoulos II stockholders to approve the business combination will be held on January 14, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Sonder’s common stock and public warrants are expected to be listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbols “SOND” and “SONDW,” respectively, following the closing of the business combination. Upon completion of the business combination, subject to any redemptions by the public stockholders of Gores Metropoulos II and the payment of transaction expenses at the closing, Sonder expects to have approximately $310 million in PIPE proceeds, up to $450 million in cash in Gores Metropoulos II’s trust account and $165 million of Delayed Draw Notes to fund operations and support new and existing growth initiatives.
About Gores Metropoulos II, Inc.
Gores Metropoulos II, Inc. (Nasdaq: GMII, GMIIW, and GMIIU) is a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by an affiliate of The Gores Group, LLC, a global investment firm founded in 1987 by Alec Gores, and by an affiliate of Metropoulos & Co. whose Principals are Dean, Evan and Daren Metropoulos. Gores Metropoulos II was formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Messrs. Gores and Metropoulos together have over 100 years of combined experience as entrepreneurs, operators and investors across diverse sectors including industrials, technology, media and entertainment, business services, healthcare and consumer products and services. Over the course of their careers, Messrs. Gores and Metropoulos and their respective teams have invested in more than 180 portfolio companies through varying macroeconomic environments with a consistent, operationally-oriented investment strategy. For more information, please visit www.gores.com.
About Sonder
Sonder (NASDAQ: SOND) is revolutionizing hospitality through innovative, tech-enabled service and inspiring, thoughtfully designed accommodations combined into one seamless experience. Launched in 2014 and headquartered in San Francisco, Sonder provides a variety of accommodation options — from spacious rooms to fully-equipped suites and apartments — found in over 40 markets spanning ten countries and three continents. The Sonder app gives guests full control over their stay. Complete with self-service features, simple check-in and 24/7 on-the-ground support, amenities and services at Sonder are just a tap away, making a world of better stays open to all.
To learn more, visit www.sonder.com or follow Sonder on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Download the Sonder app on Apple or Google Play.
