MP's demand improved safety procedures for hotels

MPs are set to discuss whether a change in the law is needed to improve hotel safety after a guest was sexually assaulted by a man who was given the key card to her room.

The guest at the Travelodge in Maidenhead, Berkshire was attacked by Kyran Smith who was given the key card to her room in December 2022 by pretending to be her boyfriend. He was later jailed for seven-and-a-half years for the attack last month.

Labour MPs Matt Bishop and Jen Craft said they would back a ten minute rule bill to improve security standards in hotels.

Jo Boydell, chief executive of Travelodge previously said she was "deeply sorry" and that the hotel chain had made "immediate changes" to its door key policy.

Both MPs wrote a letter to Boydell demanding a meeting after the victim spoke out.

The meeting was held yesterday with the MPs asking for Travelodge's internal review to be co-led by both a leading barrister and an organisation with expertise in issues around violence against women and girls.

The victim, who wishes to stay anonymous, told the BBC that Travelodge had "ample opportunity to deal with the case better" but "took a very long time to reply to me and didn't really take it very seriously".

Travelodge initially offered the victim a £30 refund, which she described as "insulting", before the company issued an apology.

Labour MP for Forest of Dean, Matt Bishop explained that the compensation offered "wasn't appropriate" for the severity of the case.

He said an investigation has taken four years because the Travelodge boss was only made aware of the case after the BBC broke the story.

He said: "There doesn't seem to be any sort of legislator or industry standard, that we can find.

"It is something we're trying to work out."

"Hotel chains have their own policies and standards, but there doesn't seem to be anything uniform," he added.

Bishop told BBC Berkshire he was putting forward a ten minute rule bill in parliament, for stricter rules for hotels to make their guests safer.

It is rare for such bills to become law without government support, but Bishop said it would "give us an opportunity to put it on the agenda".

"I'm extremely frustrated at the process for the victim.

"I think ultimately the way the victim's been dealt with over the four years is absolutely abhorrent and shocking," he added.

MP for Thurrock, Jen Craft, said: "I think there is wider work to do and nothing is off the table when it comes to looking at whether we need legislation, regulation or even statutory guidance.

"This should set out what people can expect and how hotels should operate in order to keep people safe."

"If Travelodge is going to convince people that it is a safe place for women to stay on their own, then they really have some work to do," she added.

The Home Office has been contacted for comment.