Starmer Urges Travelodge CEO to Address Disturbing Sexual Assault Case

Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, has written to the chief executive of Travelodge to press the hotel chain to "seriously engage" with Members of Parliament (MPs) who have raised concerns about its protocols after a woman was sexually assaulted by a man who was given her room number and a key card by staff.

The MPs who had sought an urgent meeting with Jo Boydell, the Travelodge CEO, said the case of Kyran Smith, 29, who was jailed for seven and a half years last month, raised "deeply concerning" questions. Smith attacked the woman after a party in December 2022.

In the letter, Starmer expressed the government's "serious concerns" about Boydell's lack of availability to discuss the incident and Travelodge's policies around guest safety and security. The Prime Minister urged the CEO to engage with MPs to address the issues raised by this disturbing case.

The sexual assault occurred in Maidenhead, where Smith was given the victim's room number and a key card by Travelodge staff, allowing him to enter her room and attack her. This incident has sparked outrage and prompted MPs to demand answers from the hotel chain about its security protocols and how such a breach could have occurred.

In his letter, Starmer emphasized the government's expectation that Travelodge will "seriously engage" with MPs to address their concerns and implement robust measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of guest safety and the need for Travelodge to take immediate action to restore public confidence in the chain's security protocols.

The case has sparked a wider conversation about the safety of hotel guests, particularly women, and the responsibility of hospitality providers to ensure the protection of their customers. Travelodge has faced criticism for its apparent lack of responsiveness to the MPs' concerns, and the Prime Minister's letter is seen as a direct call for the company to take decisive action.

The sexual assault case and the subsequent response from the government highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the hospitality industry in balancing customer privacy with guest safety. As the investigation into the Maidenhead incident continues, Travelodge is under pressure to demonstrate its commitment to improving its security protocols and ensuring that such incidents do not occur again.