About Sonesta International Hotels Corporation

Who We Are

At Sonesta International, we open our doors and welcome the world. Sonesta offers service with a passion, loyalty with a purpose, and a commitment to the many faces—new and familiar—that stay with us. The human side of hospitality is the core of our culture. Our mission is to wow every guest, team member, partner and community in which we operate by delivering quality, value and amazing hospitality. We bring these values to every one of our over 280 properties in eight countries—and counting.

Our Brands

Accommodations as distinct as you

Sonesta’s growing brand portfolio of hotel brands are each as individual as your reason to travel. Whether it’s me-time, we-time, business-time or family time, Sonesta has a room or suite just for you.

Royal San Juan Exterior Pool Cabanas

Royal Sonesta

Royal Sonesta properties are high-design hideaways in the best locations in the world. Choose an impeccable urban oasis—or peerless resort experience—to explore and enjoy. Ideal for everything from exceptional conferences to indulgent getaways.

Explore Brand
SONESTA CARES

Our Guests. Our Privilege

We’re here for your health and happiness

Stay Safe with Sonesta

Stay Safe with Sonesta

Sonesta cares deeply about the health and well-being of our guests and employees. Our Stay Safe with Sonesta program meets or exceeds applicable CDC and/or governmental requirements and guidance related to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Learn More
Our Mission

Our Mission

The mission at Sonesta is to wow every guest, team member, partner and community in which we operate by delivering quality, value and amazing hospitality.

See How
Hospitality Started Here
Our History

Hospitality Started Here

In 1937, real estate mogul A.M. “Sonny” Sonnabend pooled his resources with other investors to purchase the Preston Beach Hotel in a tiny Massachusetts seaside town. Thanks to the success earned from the unrivaled service and hospitality he provided every guest, his focus moved from real estate to hospitality. Excellent service and authentic experiences became the foundation for what would become one of the first U.S.-based international hotels—and they remain a cherished tradition Sonesta has honored every day for over 80 years.
1937

A.M. “Sonny” Sonnabend purchased the Preston Beach Hotel in Massachusetts with 6 other investors.

1944

Newly formed Sonnabend Operated Hotels purchased the Biltmore, Whitehall and Palm Beach Country Club in Florida.

1944

Newly formed Sonnabend Operated Hotels purchased the Biltmore, Whitehall and Palm Beach Country Club in Florida.

1948

Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago is purchased by Sonnabend Operated Hotels.

1948

Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago is purchased by Sonnabend Operated Hotels.

1950

Sonnabend Operated Hotels purchased the Hotel Cleveland and Terminal Tower.

1950

Sonnabend Operated Hotels purchased the Hotel Cleveland and Terminal Tower.

1953

A.M. Sonnabend purchased the Plaza Hotel in New York from Hilton. This was followed by the sale of the Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC and long-term lease on the Roosevelt Hotel in New York. 1st specialty restaurant in a hotel opens; the Rib Room at the Somerset in Boston.

1953

A.M. Sonnabend purchased the Plaza Hotel in New York from Hilton. This was followed by the sale of the Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC and long-term lease on the Roosevelt Hotel in New York. 1st specialty restaurant in a hotel opens; the Rib Room at the Somerset in Boston.

1954

Sonny Sonnabend named Director and then President - Childs Restaurant Corporation.

1954

Sonny Sonnabend named Director and then President - Childs Restaurant Corporation.

1955

Child Restaurant Corporation buys 3 Sonnabend Operated Hotels.

1955

Child Restaurant Corporation buys 3 Sonnabend Operated Hotels.

1956

Child Restaurant Corporation changes its name to Hotel Corporation of America, founded as a publicly traded company with A.M. Sonnabend as President.

1956

Child Restaurant Corporation changes its name to Hotel Corporation of America, founded as a publicly traded company with A.M. Sonnabend as President.

1959

1st International hotel built by Sonesta opens in San Juan.

1959

1st International hotel built by Sonesta opens in San Juan.

1964

A.M. Sonnabend passes and sons Roger, Paul and Stephen redirect the company to be a hotel management company, rather than a real estate or finance company. Charterhouse/Hotel Sonesta/Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston opens.

1964

A.M. Sonnabend passes and sons Roger, Paul and Stephen redirect the company to be a hotel management company, rather than a real estate or finance company. Charterhouse/Hotel Sonesta/Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston opens.

1969

Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans opens.

1969

Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans opens.

1970

HCA renamed Sonesta International Hotels Corporation.

1970

HCA renamed Sonesta International Hotels Corporation.

1978

Sonesta introduces 1st Travel Agent Advisory Board, meeting annually since.

1978

Sonesta introduces 1st Travel Agent Advisory Board, meeting annually since.

1982

Sonesta Hotel Cairo opens.

1982

Sonesta Hotel Cairo opens.

1983

Sonesta introduces Meeting Planner Advisory Board.

1983

Sonesta introduces Meeting Planner Advisory Board.

1989

1st Sonesta Cruise Ship – Sonesta Nile Goddess is launched.

1989

1st Sonesta Cruise Ship – Sonesta Nile Goddess is launched.

1993

Sonesta Sun Goddess Cruise Ship launches in Egypt.

1993

Sonesta Sun Goddess Cruise Ship launches in Egypt.

1994

Sonesta Beach Resort & Casino Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt opens.

1994

Sonesta Beach Resort & Casino Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt opens.

1997

Sonesta St. George Hotel Luxor, opens in Egypt.

1997

Sonesta St. George Hotel Luxor, opens in Egypt.

1998

Sonesta Club Sharm El Sheikh, opens in Egypt Sonesta Hotel El Olivar Lima, Peru opens.

1998

Sonesta Club Sharm El Sheikh, opens in Egypt Sonesta Hotel El Olivar Lima, Peru opens.

1999

Sonesta Posada del Inca Miraflores Lima, opens in Peru. Sonesta Posada del Inca Cusco, opens in Peru. Sonesta Posada del Inca Lake Titicaca Puno, opens in Peru. Sonesta Posada del Inca Sacred Valley Yucay, opens in Peru.

1999

Sonesta Posada del Inca Miraflores Lima, opens in Peru. Sonesta Posada del Inca Cusco, opens in Peru. Sonesta Posada del Inca Lake Titicaca Puno, opens in Peru. Sonesta Posada del Inca Sacred Valley Yucay, opens in Peru.

2000

Sonesta Moon Goddess Cruise Ship launched in Egypt.

2000

Sonesta Moon Goddess Cruise Ship launched in Egypt.

2002

Sonesta Posada del Inca Arequipa opens in Peru Sonesta Hotel & Suites Coconut Grove opens in Florida.

2002

Sonesta Posada del Inca Arequipa opens in Peru Sonesta Hotel & Suites Coconut Grove opens in Florida.

2004

Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino rebranded in St. Maarten.

2004

Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino rebranded in St. Maarten.

2006

Sonesta Star Goddess Cruise Ship launches in Egypt. Sonesta St. George I cruise ship launches in Egypt. Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort rebranded in St. Maarten.

2006

Sonesta Star Goddess Cruise Ship launches in Egypt. Sonesta St. George I cruise ship launches in Egypt. Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort rebranded in St. Maarten.

2008

Sonesta Pharaoh Beach Resort Hurghada rebranded in Egypt.

2008

Sonesta Pharaoh Beach Resort Hurghada rebranded in Egypt.

2009

Sonesta Hotel Valledupar opens in Colombia. Sonesta Hotel Osorno opens in Chile.

2009

Sonesta Hotel Valledupar opens in Colombia. Sonesta Hotel Osorno opens in Chile.

2010

Sonesta Hotel Cusco rebranded in Peru. Le Royale - A Sonesta Luxury Resort opens in Sharm El Sheikh. Sonesta Hotel Barranquilla in Colombia introduced.

2010

Sonesta Hotel Cusco rebranded in Peru. Le Royale - A Sonesta Luxury Resort opens in Sharm El Sheikh. Sonesta Hotel Barranquilla in Colombia introduced.

2011

Sonesta Hotels in Bogota and Cartagena open in Colombia, and in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

2011

Sonesta Hotels in Bogota and Cartagena open in Colombia, and in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

2012

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation sold to a Newton-based affiliate of Hospitality Properties Trust. Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island reflagged in April. Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore reflagged in May. Sonesta Hotel Philadelphia reflagged in June. Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston reflagged in July. Sonesta's newest brand the Sonesta ES Suites were introduced in Andover MA, Atlanta GA, Auburn Hills MI, Burlington MA, Charlotte NC, Columbia MD, Dublin OH, Flagstaff AZ, Houston TX, Orlando FL, Parsippany NJ, Princeton NJ, Malvern PA, St. Louis MO, Schaumburg IL and Somerset NJ over the summer.

2012

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation sold to a Newton-based affiliate of Hospitality Properties Trust. Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island reflagged in April. Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore reflagged in May. Sonesta Hotel Philadelphia reflagged in June. Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston reflagged in July. Sonesta's newest brand the Sonesta ES Suites were introduced in Andover MA, Atlanta GA, Auburn Hills MI, Burlington MA, Charlotte NC, Columbia MD, Dublin OH, Flagstaff AZ, Houston TX, Orlando FL, Parsippany NJ, Princeton NJ, Malvern PA, St. Louis MO, Schaumburg IL and Somerset NJ over the summer.

2013

Sonesta Hotel Gwinnett Place Atlanta reflagged in May.

2013

Sonesta Hotel Gwinnett Place Atlanta reflagged in May.

2014

Sonesta Fort Lauderdale reflags on May 30th.

2014

Sonesta Fort Lauderdale reflags on May 30th.

2015

Sonesta Bee Cave Austin opens.

2015

Sonesta Bee Cave Austin opens.

2016

Sonesta ES Suites brand expands with new hotels in Burlington, VT, Cincinnati, OH, Colorado Springs, CO, Minneapolis, MN, Monmouth Junction, NJ, Oklahoma City, OK, Omaha, NE, Somers Point, NJ and Tucson, AZ. Sonesta ES Suites brand opens two new hotels Cleveland Westlake and Cleveland Airport Sonesta Silicon Valley San Jose opens in December.

2016

Sonesta ES Suites brand expands with new hotels in Burlington, VT, Cincinnati, OH, Colorado Springs, CO, Minneapolis, MN, Monmouth Junction, NJ, Oklahoma City, OK, Omaha, NE, Somers Point, NJ and Tucson, AZ. Sonesta ES Suites brand opens two new hotels Cleveland Westlake and Cleveland Airport Sonesta Silicon Valley San Jose opens in December.

2017

The Chase Park Plaza, A Royal Sonesta - St. Louis opens in June. Sonesta Hotel Bucaramanga opens in September. Sonesta ES Suites opens 14 hotels in one day with new locations in Vancouver, WA, Houston, TX, Memphis, TN, Cincinnati, OH, St. Louis, MO, Ann Arbor, MI, Chicago, IL, Atlanta, GA, Jacksonville, FL, Birmingham, AL. Sonesta Travel Pass launches in South America where you can now earn and redeem points. Sonesta opens their first dual brand in Gwinnett Place Atlanta: Sonesta ES Suites Gwinnett Place Atlanta and Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta.

2017

The Chase Park Plaza, A Royal Sonesta - St. Louis opens in June. Sonesta Hotel Bucaramanga opens in September. Sonesta ES Suites opens 14 hotels in one day with new locations in Vancouver, WA, Houston, TX, Memphis, TN, Cincinnati, OH, St. Louis, MO, Ann Arbor, MI, Chicago, IL, Atlanta, GA, Jacksonville, FL, Birmingham, AL. Sonesta Travel Pass launches in South America where you can now earn and redeem points. Sonesta opens their first dual brand in Gwinnett Place Atlanta: Sonesta ES Suites Gwinnett Place Atlanta and Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta.

2018

Sonesta Travel Pass restructures its tier structure for redemptions to start as low at 15,000 points. The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel in San Francisco, CA opens in May. Sonesta Suites Scottsdale Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, AZ opens in October.

2018

Sonesta Travel Pass restructures its tier structure for redemptions to start as low at 15,000 points. The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel in San Francisco, CA opens in May. Sonesta Suites Scottsdale Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, AZ opens in October.

2019

Sonesta Hotel Loja opened in February marking our second hotel in Ecuador. Sonesta Hotel Arequipa was added to the collection in Peru in February. Sonesta World Mastercard®, our first cobrand credit card is introduced in June. Royal Sonesta Chicago Riverfront and Sonesta Irvine join the portfolio in November. Sonesta ES Suites New Orleans opened its doors in the bio-medical district in December.

2019

Sonesta Hotel Loja opened in February marking our second hotel in Ecuador. Sonesta Hotel Arequipa was added to the collection in Peru in February. Sonesta World Mastercard®, our first cobrand credit card is introduced in June. Royal Sonesta Chicago Riverfront and Sonesta Irvine join the portfolio in November. Sonesta ES Suites New Orleans opened its doors in the bio-medical district in December.

2020

Sonesta Atlanta Northwest, Sonesta Suites Dallas Park Central, Sonesta ES Suites Dallas Park Central, and Sonesta Hamilton Park Morristown Hotel & Conference Center joined the portfolio in September.

2020

Sonesta Atlanta Northwest, Sonesta Suites Dallas Park Central, Sonesta ES Suites Dallas Park Central, and Sonesta Hamilton Park Morristown Hotel & Conference Center joined the portfolio in September.

2021

Sonesta acquires Red Lion Hotels Corporation and a new era begins in Hospitality.

2021

Sonesta acquires Red Lion Hotels Corporation and a new era begins in Hospitality.

Preview Test Section Title
Franchising

Franchising

As one of the largest hotel companies in the world, we feature 1,200 locations across eight countries and three continents. Whether you’re looking to open a single property or manage a full portfolio, we work with you every step of the way and help transform your vision into reality.

Explore Franchising Opportunities
Careers

Careers

When you join Team Sonesta, you become a vital member of our family—and part of the 8th largest hotel company in the world. 15 Brands. 1200-plus Properties. A lifetime of possibilities.

Start your Career with Sonesta