More than twenty MPs from across the political spectrum are demanding answers from one of Britain’s largest budget hotel chains after a serious breach of security led to a guest being sexually assaulted in her room. The case has ignited parliamentary concern over the duty of care owed to lone travellers and the adequacy of industry safety standards.
The incident occurred at the Travelodge in Maidenhead in December 2022. Kyran Smith, 29, who had been at the same party as the victim earlier that evening, went to the hotel reception in the early hours. He falsely told staff he was the woman’s boyfriend and, after providing her name, was given her room number and a key card.
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was asleep when Smith entered her room. She awoke to find him in her bed. In a statement, she said it was her first time staying alone in a hotel and claimed Smith had passed the hotel’s security checks simply by knowing her name. She reported the assault to staff the following morning.
Legal Reckoning and a ‘Deeply Insulting’ Response
Following a trial at Reading Crown Court last November, Smith was found guilty of sexual assault and trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence. He was sentenced to seven years and six months imprisonment in January. Thames Valley Police, which investigated the case, reiterated its commitment to investigating sexual offences with the utmost seriousness.
However, the victim’s ordeal was compounded by Travelodge’s subsequent response. The company offered her a £30 refund for her stay, an offer she and a growing number of parliamentarians have labelled “insulting” and wholly inappropriate given the circumstances.
In a letter to Travelodge’s CEO, Jo Boydell, the MPs have demanded an urgent meeting to address fundamental questions raised by the case. The letter, signed by 26 MPs and Labour peer Jane Ramsey, includes prominent figures such as former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and Labour MPs Matt Bishop and Jen Craft. The sole non-Labour signatory is the DUP’s Jim Shannon, MP for Strangford.
The correspondence states: “The details that have emerged regarding how access to the victim’s room was granted raise serious questions about guest safety, hotel security procedures and the adequacy of the response from Travelodge.” It adds that the incident “raises deeply concerning questions about whether current policies provide sufficient safeguards for guests, particularly women travelling alone.”
CEO Pressed on Procedures and Review
The MPs are seeking a discussion with Ms Boydell, who took up the role of CEO in May 2022, shortly before the attack. They want to understand how the decision to offer a £30 refund was made, what internal review the company has conducted since the assault, and how it has strengthened its security procedures.
Travelodge, in response, has apologised to the victim for how the refund offer was handled, acknowledging it was inappropriate. A spokesperson stated: “Travelodge adopts industry standard security procedures which were followed at the time of the incident in 2022.”
The company added that it will carry out a full review of its room security policies to learn from the incident and further strengthen procedures. The spokesperson confirmed that Jo Boydell would be replying to the MPs’ letter.
For the politicians involved, the case transcends this single, horrific event. Their letter emphasises a core principle: “Hotels have a fundamental duty of care to the people who stay in them. Guests must be able to trust that when they check into a room – particularly when travelling alone – their privacy and safety must be protected.” The meeting they seek will test how seriously one of the UK’s major hotel chains takes that duty in practice.
