MPs demand Travelodge meeting over room security

MPs have demanded a meeting with the boss of Travelodge after a woman was sexually assaulted in her hotel bed by a man who had been given a key card and her room number by staff.

Kyran Smith was jailed for seven-and-a-half years following the attack at the Maidenhead branch of the hotel chain in December 2022.

More than 20 MPs have signed a letter to Travelodge asking for a meeting with chief executive Jo Boydell to discuss the company's security policies and procedures, saying the case raised "deeply concerning questions".

Travelodge, which offered the victim an "insulting" £30 refund, has apologised for how the offer was handled and has said it was carrying out a review of its room security policies.

Smith had been at the same party as the woman during a night out in December 2022 when they and others retired to their rooms.

He went to reception in the early hours and was given the key card after lying to staff that he was 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.

The letter to the company, written by Matt Bishop and Jen Craft, and signed by more than 20 other MPs, demands a meeting to discuss Travelodge's response to the incident and the wider issue of hotel security.

Bishop, MP for Forest of Dean, said: "Serious questions remain about how this was allowed to happen and whether hotel security procedures are strong enough to protect guests - particularly women travelling alone.

"Hotels have a clear duty of care to their guests. People must be able to trust that their privacy and safety will be protected when they check in."

Travelodge previously admitted the £30 refund offer was inappropriate under the circumstances.

Smith was found guilty of sexual assault and trespass with intent to commit a relevant sexual offence following a four-day trial at Reading Crown Court in November.

Travelodge declined to tell the BBC what its security measures included but said staff at the time had followed them correctly.

In a statement, the company added: "The safety and security of our guests is our priority and we were deeply concerned to hear of this distressing incident and our sympathies are with the victim.

"We want to apologise to the victim for the way this incident has been handled.

"Travelodge adopts industry standard security procedures which were followed at the time of the incident in 2022.

"We will carry out a full review of our room security policies to learn from this incident and further strengthen our procedures."