Rebranding to Sonesta won't make the pandemic go away. If they were losing money with Marriott, they aren't going to suddenly be profitable with Sonesta.
I smell a bluff. They need to balance their books and threatening Marriott is the easiest way to do it.
Its NO bluff as the title states, I take it you dont spend any time on The IHG Forum;
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inte...30-2020-a.html