A Motel in New Jersey Earns Tiktok Fame by Helping Those in Need

Bryan Arya’s family has owned the Lincoln Tunnel Motel in North Bergen, NJ for over 30 years. When he began working the overnight shift at the motel in 2012, it had a 1.4-star rating online. But he’s taken that rating all the way up to 3.5 stars with a little help from TikTok.

At first he started accruing followers (now over 800k) with funny videos simply chronicling life at the motel with his trusty sidekick, Steven, a long-term resident of the inn. But 2020 was the tipping point when he started doing something most motel owners would never do: letting guests stay for free.

He launched the “Free Room For You” program to help people who couldn’t afford rent and needed a place to stay, and that not only got him followers, but also a lot of support. People started sending in donations, supplies, and even “paying it forward” by renting a room for the next person that came in needing one.

For more detail on his incredibly generous offer, check out this interview he did with CBS:

@ltmotel 2022 is gonna be a good year thanks in part to @cbsnews! #motelhell #boostofhope #theuplift ♬ original sound – Brian The Motel Guy

And make sure you check out the rest of his TikTok videos! They’re a great example of how using the power of social media, humor, and compassion can go a long way in changing a business and the world, one person at a time.