Travelodge failed sex assault victim 'at every stage'

An independent review has concluded that UK hotel chain Travelodge failed a sexual assault victim at every stage, according to the BBC. Barrister Paul Greaney KC found the company's security policies at the time of the attack at its Maidenhead hotel in December 2022 to be unfit for purpose. Greaney criticized the lack of training for receptionists handling keys and the absence of a policy on violence against women and girls.

Travelodge has apologized unreservedly to the victim. The review credited the company with making changes since March but found that Kyran Smith, who obtained the victim's hotel key by falsely claiming to be her boyfriend, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years in January. Smith was given the key less than three minutes after approaching reception, by a staff member with no key security training.

Greaney stated that blame rested with Travelodge as an organization rather than individual staff, noting that a culture developed where room intrusions were considered commonplace. The victim emailed a complaint to Travelodge in January 2023, addressed to CEO Jo Boydell and others, but the review found her email was mishandled, with her office unaware of it until March 2026.