Overview
- Keir Starmer wrote to CEO Jo Boydell urging her to engage with MPs after she declined an open session to answer questions about guest safety.
- Boydell has held smaller meetings with government representatives, while almost 100 MPs seeking a wider discussion say their request was rebuffed, according to multiple reports.
- Ministers are weighing legislative steps and sector-wide talks on security practices, and two Labour MPs are drafting a 10-minute rule bill to strengthen hotel safeguards.
- Travelodge says it has tightened room key procedures and commissioned an independent review led by Paul Greaney KC to examine failures and set changes in motion.
- The push follows a 2022 assault at the Maidenhead Travelodge, where Kyran Smith obtained a key card by posing as the victim’s partner and was jailed in February, as the firm apologized for an initial £30 offer to the victim.