Scandic Hotels has decided to close Bergen’s legendary Hotel Norge for major renovations when it takes over as operator in September. All of the roughly 200 people working at the hotel will be laid off, and they’re protesting.
“This is just terrible,” Djevat Hisenaj, who has worked at the hotel for 26 years, told state broadcaster NRK on Friday. He’s the leader of the local hotel and restaurant workers’ union in Bergen’s Hordaland County, and is already planning to file a legal complaint over the layoffs.
Scandic’s chief executive had initially said all of Hotell Norge’s employees would get new jobs in Scandic, but the decision to actually close the hotel during its renovation period for nearly a year has changed that.
The renovation is expected to cost around NOK 250 million and reportedly is badly needed. Newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) gave the hotel a terrible review last year, with its lowest score ever, complaining mostly of shabby and dirty rooms. The hotel is due to reopen in May 2017.
newsinenglish.no staff
