Travelodge review finds fault with hotel chain’s lack of policy to protect women

Chiswick High Road Travelodge

Room intrusions reported at nearly one in ten hotels

A review into the Travelodge hotel chain’s security protocols has found room intrusions were reported at nearly one in 10 Travelodge hotels this summer and no policy was in place on violence against women and girls.

The review, carried out by barrister Paul Greaney KC, came about after the BBC reported a case four years ago in which a woman was woken up to by a man sexually assaulting her in her bed at the Travelodge in Maidenhead.

Kyran Smith had been at the same party as her and was given the key card to her room by staff on reception after he told them he was her boyfriend.

He was later convicted of trespass and sexual assault and jailed for seven and a half years.

After the Maidenhead case became public dozens of people who came forward to report incidents in which they had also been put at risk.

The BBC reported it had been contacted by numerous people who had been “terrified” by “strangers” coming into their rooms: ‘and many have provided evidence of their subsequent complaints to Travelodge and direct emails to its CEO.

‘Others have reported accidentally walking into occupied rooms after being given the wrong room key.

‘The guests said Travelodge’s responses had been “lacking”, “dismissive”, “totally uninterested” and “appalling”.’

Chiswick High Road Travelodge

Woman housed in Chiswick Travelodge says fellow tenant tried to kiss her

Among the complaints from women who felt unsafe at Travelodge hotels was a woman who was targeted by a man who made sexual advances towards her at the Travelodge in Chiswick, though he did not come into her room.

Kelly Butler was staying in the Travelodge on Chiswick High Road with her partner Ashley Dudman in July this year while repairs were carried out on their Ravenscourt Park flat.

She reported that a man staying at the same hotel grabbed her hand and tried to kiss her on two separate occasions, once outside the hotel and again the next morning in the breakfast area.

They were both housed there temporarily by a housing association while work was done on their flats. Following the incident, Travelodge removed the man from the hotel, and the matter was reported to the Met Police.

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Travelodge said it welcomed the recommendations from Paul Greaney’s report and that they had started to make changes to their training and procedures since March, when Smith was jailed.