A Liberal Democrat MP from Oxfordshire has promised to raise concerns with Travelodge if the hotel chain fails to respond to a sexual assault controversy.
Freddie van Mierlo, representing Henley and Thame, indicated he would escalate the matter to the company’s chief executive after she missed a scheduled meeting with parliamentarians.
The billion-pound business, based in Thame, has faced criticism following an incident where a guest was sexually assaulted by a man who had been provided with a key card to her room.
The MP stated that reports of the disturbing case had surfaced, involving a woman attacked in her hotel accommodation after a key was handed to an unfamiliar individual. He explained that several MPs, himself included, had requested a discussion with Travelodge regarding the circumstances and preventive measures, but chief executive Jo Boydell did not attend.
He noted that since the company operates from Thame, he would pursue the matter with them if they continued to avoid engaging with elected representatives.
Kyran Smith received a prison sentence in February lasting seven and a half years after the assault at a Travelodge location in Maidenhead, Berkshire, which occurred in December 2022.
The chief executive expressed regret to the affected individual in a statement issued the previous Sunday, indicating that the company had implemented immediate modifications to its key card procedures.
The company acknowledged that errors had occurred and that faster action should have been taken, with a sincere apology offered.
Prior to Ms Boydell’s statement, the victim, who has chosen to stay anonymous, informed the BBC that Travelodge had sufficient time to handle the situation more appropriately but responded slowly and failed to treat the matter with appropriate gravity.
Travelodge initially proposed a refund of £30 to the victim, which she characterised as disrespectful, before subsequently issuing an apology.
Ms Boydell stated in her announcement that she would value the chance to speak with the victim about the incident and to understand where improvements could be made. She explained that an internal examination of room access security procedures had been conducted and immediate changes implemented to ensure that any additional or replacement room key would only be provided with clear consent from the occupant or occupants of the room.
The scheduled meeting with MPs was cancelled, according to proceedings in the House of Commons on Wednesday, March 18 during Prime Minister’s Questions.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed that his thoughts were with the victim. He stated that he had been troubled to learn that Travelodge’s chief executive had cancelled the meeting with MPs and urged the company to reconsider. He emphasised that the discussion needed to proceed with the appropriate parliamentarians and the relevant minister present, and that holding it sooner would be preferable.