Hotels are not in competition with long term residents for various reasons- zoning, unsuitable building types, etc etc. It is extremely uncommon for a hotel to buy an entire apartment building and turn it into a hotel because it's extremely difficult to do so.
By contrast, Sonder can buy individual apartments very easy. The whole selling point is that they are apartments, so there's no need to renovate etc.
Hmm, do you have a source for more info? I think I stayed in a boutique hotel like that in NYC. I mean sure, it's probably a complete remodel. But it's still taking an entire apartment building off the market.
What it comes down to: everyone needs a place to live. Everyone takes up space. All housing space is valuable. But somehow many people think they can live somewhere without being a cause of the housing shortage.
The only way to not be part of the problem is to move away.
Actually, this is arguing for Sonder's strength compared to typical Airbnbs.
Sonder is expanding with hotel licensing and from a zoning perspective is like a hotel. And yes, the units are being renovated to Sonder's standards. If you stay in a Sonder and ask about the history of the building it may be very surprising.
By contrast, Sonder can buy individual apartments very easy. The whole selling point is that they are apartments, so there's no need to renovate etc.