- Jo Boydell has resigned as the boss of Travelodge amid backlash over the chain's handling of a sexual assault case at a Berkshire hotel.
- Ray Reidy, the chief financial officer, has taken over as interim CEO following Boydell's resignation.
- In December 2022, a man was wrongly given a key card to a guest's room in Maidenhead, Berkshire, and sexually assaulted her.
- The victim was later offered a £30 refund, which she described as 'insulting'.
- Kyran Smith was jailed in February for seven-and-a-half years for the 2022 assault.
- Sir Keir Starmer, then-Prime Minister, urged Jo Boydell to 'seriously engage' with MPs over women's safety concerns.
- In October 2025, another woman was attacked at a Travelodge in London after staff gave her abuser a key without checking with her.
- Travelodge has launched a formal search for a permanent replacement for Jo Boydell and announced changes to its room access security policy.
Travelodge CEO Jo Boydell's resignation follows intense scrutiny over the hotel chain's security protocols after a series of alarming incidents, including a 2022 sexual assault where a man gained unauthorized access to a guest's room.1
The incident in Berkshire involved a man who falsely claimed to be the victim's partner, leading to a traumatic assault. The victim received a mere £30 refund after the attack, which she deemed insulting.4
Another case involved a woman escaping domestic abuse who was attacked after staff mistakenly provided her abuser with a room key. She described her experience as terrifying, stating, “I thought someone would protect me,” as she fled for help.
Following these events, Travelodge has faced calls for accountability, with former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging Boydell to engage with government officials on safety issues.6
In response to the backlash, Travelodge has initiated a review of its security policies, stating that any new room key will now require explicit permission from the guest. Interim CEO Ray Reidy emphasized the company's commitment to guest safety, stating, “We remain focused on the safety and wellbeing of our guests.”2
Travelodge's chair, Stephen Shurrock, reiterated that the focus on safety and security remains unchanged despite the leadership change.
“The victim of the 2022 Berkshire assault was offered a £30 refund, which she called 'insulting'. In October 2025, another woman was attacked at a London Travelodge after staff gave her abuser a key without checking with her, prompting her to say 'I thought someone would protect me'.”
The Guardian
