Travelodge 'Failed Sex Assault Victim at Every Stage'
An independent review found that Travelodge's security policies were severely lacking after a woman was sexually assaulted in her hotel room.
Travelodge, the hotel chain, "fundamentally failed" a woman who was sexually assaulted in her room at its Maidenhead hotel in 2022, an independent review has concluded. The review found that the chain's security policies at the time were "not fit for the purpose of keeping guests safe" and that reception staff had received no training in key security.
Highlights
- Assailant Kyran Smith was given the victim's room key by reception after falsely claiming to be her boyfriend.
- Barrister Paul Greaney KC, who led the review, stated that the chain's security policies at the time of the attack were "not fit for the purpose of keeping guests safe."
- Room intrusions were reported at nearly one in 10 Travelodge hotels this summer.
- While Travelodge has made changes since March, the new key security policy is not being applied with sufficient consistency.
Details
The incident occurred in December 2022 at a Travelodge hotel in Maidenhead. Kyran Smith obtained the key by falsely claiming to be the woman's boyfriend and subsequently sexually assaulted her. Smith was jailed for seven-and-a-half years in January. The review found that the key was handed to him in less than three minutes by a receptionist who had received no training in key security.
The review placed blame on Travelodge as an organization rather than individual staff, noting a culture where room intrusions were regarded as "one of those things." Despite the victim emailing a complaint in January 2023, it was handled without CEO Jo Boydell's knowledge and only came to her attention in March 2026. Boydell stepped down as CEO in August following criticism over the company's handling of safety complaints.
Why it matters
This incident and the independent review highlight the critical responsibilities of hotel chains regarding guest safety and the inadequacy of existing security measures. The 38 recommendations made in the review, including requiring guests to show ID for room keys, body-worn cameras for reception staff, and improved staff training, underscore the urgent need for the hotel industry to review and strengthen its guest safety standards.