Travelodge has launched a fresh investigation following new allegations that women's hotel rooms were accessed without permission. The latest reports come after a woman was sexually assaulted by a man who was given a key card to her room by staff.
Philippa, 20, who only gave her first name, said that on her first night alone in a hotel, two strangers unlocked her door and walked in. One of the men told her there had been a mix-up with bookings. After a brief conversation, they left. She reported the incident to reception the next day and was told the receptionist had entered her room while checking in another guest. She received a partial refund but noted her door lacked an internal lock or chain.
In another case, Jan Palmer said that shortly after midnight during a stay in Bristol, her door opened abruptly and someone entered. She shouted at the intruder, who left after apologising. She was refunded for that night but never learned what happened, saying she felt 'fobbed off'.
Both women came forward after Kyran Smith, 29, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years for a sexual assault at a Travelodge in Maidenhead in 2022. Travelodge CEO Jo Boydell apologised, saying: 'What happened was very upsetting and shouldn't have happened.' She added that the cases would form part of an independent review of room security procedures and handling of such incidents.
