Travelodge boss offers to meet sexual assault victim

The chief executive of Travelodge has offered to meet a woman who was sexually assaulted in her hotel room by a man who was given a key card by staff.

Jo Boydell apologised for the "significant distress" the woman endured and invited her to a meeting to discuss improvements to the company's procedures.

Kyran Smith was given the card after lying to staff at the chain's branch in Maidenhead, Berkshire, that he was the woman's boyfriend in December 2022.

The 29-year-old, from Staines, Surrey, was jailed for seven years and six months in February following a trial at Reading Crown Court.

Boydell said: "I am deeply sorry for the significant distress experienced by the victim.

"We have apologised to her for the way the incident has been handled and have invited her to meet with us to discuss how we can further improve our procedures.

"I am committing to an independent review of our room security policies to learn from this incident and further strengthen our procedures.

"Our guests deserve to be reassured that their safety and security is of the utmost importance to us."

More than 100 MPs have signed a letter to Travelodge - which is based in Thame, Oxfordshire - asking for a meeting with the hotel boss to discuss the company's security policies.

They said the case raised "deeply concerning questions".

Joshua Reynolds, the Liberal Democrat MP for Maidenhead, said: "My thoughts are with the victim of this truly appalling case.

"It raises serious questions about the safety and security measures that were in place, and how it led to such a catastrophic error."

He added: "Travelodge must urgently come forward and demonstrate that changes have been made to ensure this never happens again.

"Hotels have a duty to ensure that all travellers, but particularly women, feel safe in the knowledge that security is taken incredibly seriously."

Boydell has responded to the MPs and agreed to a meeting.

Smith had been at the same party as the woman during a night out when they and others retired to their rooms.

He went to reception in the early hours and was given the key card after claiming to be her boyfriend.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claimed staff told her Smith, who was known to her, had passed their security checks by providing her name.

Travelodge initially offered the victim an £30 refund which she described as "insulting".