PM Calls for Direct Engagement on Travelodge Guest Safety
Sir Keir Starmer has written to Travelodge's chief executive, Jo Boydell, urging her to "seriously engage" with the government regarding guest security at the hotel chain's properties.
The Prime Minister expressed he was "very concerned" that some Members of Parliament had not heard directly from Boydell. He emphasized the importance of learning lessons following an "utterly appalling" sexual assault at a Travelodge hotel in Maidenhead.
CEO Jo Boydell met with ministers and MPs Jen Craft and Matt Bishop earlier this month but subsequently declined to speak to a broader group of MPs.
Travelodge has been contacted for comment.
Details of the Assault and Legal Outcome
Kyran Smith was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison in February after committing the attack in December 2022.
The victim later informed the BBC that Smith had obtained a key card to her room by falsely claiming to be her boyfriend.
PM's Letter to Travelodge CEO
In his letter to Boydell, Starmer acknowledged her meetings with some MPs and ministers but reiterated his "very concerned" stance that other MPs had not had the opportunity to hear from her directly.
"I urge you to seriously engage with MPs and my Government to address the concerns that remain around best practice interventions for prevention, the training being made available and the pace of Travelodge's response,"
he wrote.
"It is incredibly important that lessons are learned and action is taken to better protect guests."
Travelodge's Response and Policy Changes
Boydell issued an apology to the victim in a statement earlier in March, noting that the company had implemented changes to its door key policy.
Government Strategy on Violence Against Women and Girls
The government released its Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy in December, aiming to reduce this type of violence by half within ten years.
In his letter, the Prime Minister stated:
"This is a personal mission for me: no woman or girl should feel unsafe in this country, or fear for their life.
VAWG is a national emergency and, as such, demands that all of us take action to tackle it."
