Hotel Sexual Offences on the Rise
A Metro investigation has uncovered 1,323 sexual offences recorded in hotels across England in 2025, a 6.5% increase from 1,242 in 2024. Data from 27 police forces between January 2023 and January 2026 shows at least 4,011 sexual offences at hotels. Twelve forces could not provide usable data, suggesting the true figure is higher. The findings raise serious concerns about safety measures for female guests.
Travelodge Attack: A Case in Point
In December 2022, Kyran Smith was jailed after sexually attacking a woman in a Travelodge in Maidenhead. Smith obtained a key from reception by simply providing the guest's name, claiming to be her boyfriend. The victim, staying alone for the first time, was later offered a £30 refund. Travelodge has since introduced a policy requiring staff to obtain permission from the registered guest before issuing additional keys.
No Way to Contact Reception
In October 2023, Claire Bartlett, 42, was staying at a Premier Inn in Camden, London. At 2-3 am, a man hammered on her door. Through the peephole, she saw a stranger in black tie. Her room had no phone to call reception. 'I reverted right back to the terrified little girl I once was hiding under the blanket,' she said. Hours later, the man fell asleep outside her room. Staff later offered a discount on a future stay. A Premier Inn spokesperson said reception teams are available 24/7 and can be contacted by mobile, but when Metro asked about telephone policy, Guest Relations stated: 'Telephones are not provided at most hotels – local rate numbers for reception teams can be found in every room.'
Key Given to Wrong Guest
Abigail Cousins, 34, a business development manager, has stayed in hundreds of UK hotels. In 2019, at a budget hotel in Solihull, a key to her room was given to another guest, who entered while she was in the shower. 'When I heard someone was in my room I screamed,' she said. The man apologised, but she noted he didn't have to provide her name to get a key. In another Manchester hotel, she found the security chain removed; staff said it was due to fire safety. One 'very well-known brand' made her sign a waiver for a ground-floor room, acknowledging risks and releasing the hotel from liability.
Expert Advice: Pack a Door Wedge
Stephanie Boyle from the Safer Tourism Foundation, which launched the 'She Travels Safe' campaign, reported a 60% rise in sexual harassment and assault incidents in 2024 compared to 2023, based on analysis of over 10 million annual trips. She advises solo women travellers to pack a door wedge: 'That way, even if someone outside has a key, they won’t be able to get in. It’s simple, inexpensive (you can find one online for less than £1) and easy to pack.'
Inconsistent Industry Practices
Travelodge now avoids allocating ground-floor rooms to solo women where possible, prints hotel contact numbers on key wallets, and does not announce room numbers aloud. However, Carolyn Pearson, CEO of Maiden Voyage, noted a lack of consistent approach. Recently, a London hotel staff member announced her room number aloud at reception, and when she raised concerns, he said management had not informed him of the risk.
Call for Industry-Wide Change
The Safer Tourism Foundation is working with the hospitality industry to prevent harm. Some hotels have signed the Safer Tourism Pledge, committing to stringent safety protocols. But as Abigail Cousins said: 'A lot of the hotels in the UK are not geared up for women travelling solo. In fact, there are a number of places abroad where I actually feel safer.'
