A Norwegian billionaire who owns 180 hotels has decided to be part of the solution to the world's growing migrant crisis by offering 5,000 free nights in his hotels for refugees who are in need of a place to stay.
Petter Stordalen is the owner and CEO of Home Invest, Home Capital, Home Properties, and Nordic Choice Hotels, with over 13,000 employees
Since pledging the 5,000 free nights in his hotels last April, Stordalen—who has a net worth of $1.5 billion—has already hosted 50 Syrian refugees at the Quality Hotel Airport Gardermoen, which is located just outside Oslo, Norway.
"Last week the offer became relevant because suddenly the director of immigration called me and told me that they had difficulties providing a place to sleep for 50 refugees that night that had just arrived from Syria," Stordalen told Forbes.
Stordalen provided them not just lodging for the night but also free meals. Hotel staff later escorted the migrants to Norwegian immigration offices after their stay.
"In the morning they are normally picked up by the police where they can register and see doctors and sometimes they stay for a couple of nights," said Stordalen. "The biggest problem is no one knows how many people are going to come in every night."
The Norwegian billionaire said he is not a politician but still would like to do his share in alleviating the migration crisis by providing refugees with some hospitality, which is his area of expertise.
"The world is seeing the biggest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II," he said. "It's impossible not to be affected by the human tragedy and by what's occurring in the Middle East. They can't sleep in the streets."
Earlier this September, Stordalen also made a $240,000 donation to UNICEF to help refugees in Syria.
