Labour leader Keir Starmer has called on the CEO of Travelodge to engage seriously with Members of Parliament regarding concerns over women’s safety following a sexual assault at one of the hotel chain’s properties.
The incident involved a man named Kyran Smith, who deceived hotel staff to gain access to a woman’s room by falsely claiming to be her boyfriend. Smith was subsequently sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for the assault, with Travelodge issuing an apology to the victim.
In response to the incident, the Prime Minister wrote to Travelodge’s CEO, Jo Boydell, emphasizing the importance of addressing violence against women and girls as a national emergency. The PM urged Travelodge to collaborate with MPs and the government to improve safety practices and response times.
Following the assault, Travelodge has implemented immediate security policy changes and initiated an independent review led by a prominent barrister to assess room security procedures and address any shortcomings. The hotel is also in the process of appointing an expert in violence against women and girls to assist with the review.
While Travelodge has engaged with some MPs and ministers on the matter, there have been calls from nearly 100 MPs for urgent discussions, highlighting the need for enhanced safety measures in hotels. Labour MPs Matt Bishop and Jen Craft are exploring legislative options to strengthen hotel safety regulations.
MPs have sought more transparency around Travelodge’s security protocols, key card issuance processes, safeguarding training, and measures to ensure the safety of women. Travelodge has invited all interested MPs to contribute in writing to the ongoing independent review to ensure comprehensive input from stakeholders.
Travelodge has affirmed its commitment to addressing the issue with utmost seriousness and expediting the review process to enhance safety measures and prevent similar incidents in the future.
