Chancellor Rachel Reeves has arranged discussions between MPs and the head of Travelodge following a sexual assault case that prompted widespread concern about hotel security practices.
The case in question centres on Kyran Smith, who gained access to a guest’s room at a hotel branch in Maidenhead after deceiving staff into providing him with a key card in December 2022.
Smith, from Staines, Surrey, told employees at the Berkshire hotel that he was the woman’s boyfriend, convincing them to hand over a key card to her room.
He subsequently entered the accommodation and sexually assaulted the victim.
Following a trial at Reading Crown Court, Smith received a prison sentence of seven years and six months last month.
The current intervention comes after Jo Boydell, the budget hotel chain’s chief executive, reportedly cancelled a scheduled meeting with MPs at short notice due to disagreements about attendance.
A letter written by Labour MPs Matt Bishop and Jen Craft to demand the meeting, now signed by more than 100 of their parliamentary colleagues.
Two sessions have now been arranged – an initial meeting on Monday, followed by a broader gathering on Wednesday.
Kyran Smith sexually assaulted a woman after deceiving his way into her hotel room | THAMES VALLEY POLICE
The hotel chain’s response to the initial incident provoked fury among MPs, with the victim reportedly being offered just £30 in compensation.
More than 100 MPs in support of the push for scrutiny subsequently demanded that the Travelodge chief executive answer questions about the security breach.
Jen Craft, MP for Thurrock, raised particular alarm about the company’s public statements, telling the Prime Minister that Travelodge had suggested “staff had acted fully in line with the company’s security and safety protocols and within industry standards”.
She told the BBC that the security lapse was “absolutely horrific”, and said it raised “serious questions”, adding the meeting serves as an opportunity for Ms Boydell to explain why women are safe staying at their sites.
Thurrock MP Jen Craft was backed by 100 parliamentary colleagues to push for scrutiny | HOUSE OF COMMONS
“For me, and for a lot of my colleagues, the thing that we really want to know is how can we be assured that women are safe while they stay at those hotels”, she said.
Sir Keir Starmer addressed the matter in the Commons on Wednesday, calling the incident “absolutely shocking”.
“My thoughts are with the victim, who had a right to be safe and who was failed in the most appalling way,” he said.
The Prime Minister insisted Travelodge “must take serious action to ensure such an appalling incident can never happen again”, urging them to engage with MPs.
The attack by Kyran Smith took place at the Travelodge in Maidenhead, Berkshire
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Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips also wished to hold discussions with the hotel chain, adding that “it should do that too”.
Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones told Sky News that the case “raises significant questions about safety for women and others, not only in Travelodge hotels, but potentially across the hotel sector”.
She confirmed plans to convene a cross-departmental round table involving ministers from the Department for Business and Trade and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
The discussions will focus on developing new guidance to prevent similar incidents occurring in future – “Nothing will be off the table,” Ms Davies-Jones added.
Travelodge confirmed that the chief executive remains committed to meeting parliamentary representatives next week.
The company stated it has been working to strengthen room security measures and has commissioned an independent review of its procedures.
Travelodge added that it is writing to the safeguarding minister to arrange a separate meeting.