Travelodge boss Jo Boydell quits amid guest sex assault row

The boss of Travelodge has quit amid a backlash over the chain's handling of a sexual assault at one of its hotels.

Jo Boydell had been criticised for her response to the guest safety row that followed the attack in Maidenhead, Berkshire, in December 2022 in which a man had been given a key card to his victim's room.

Kyran Smith, who had claimed to be her boyfriend, was jailed in February for seven-and-a-half years.

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Then-prime minister Sir Keir Starmer urged Ms Boydell, who had run the chain since May 2022, to "seriously engage" with the government on the safety issue after she cancelled a meeting with MPs.

She was also criticised by the victim of the assault, who told Sky News she was "frustrated" by "very slow progress" in Ms Boydell's handling of her case and claimed there was a lack of accountability at Travelodge.

The hotel chain said its chief financial officer, Ray Reidy, had taken over as chief executive on an interim basis.

Travelodge said it had "acted quickly" to improve safety procedures amid fears duplicate keys could be given out without proper security checks.

The group said an independent review by Paul Greaney KC had been carried out, and an internal review was continuing.

Changes have been implemented, it said, including new room access security across more than 600 of its hotels and additional staff training.

It said a guest must now give explicit permission for an extra or replacement room key to be given out and that it would never confirm to a third party if a guest is staying at one of its hotels.

All key-card doors have also been checked to ensure they have a secondary deadbolt.

Travelodge bosses are also undertaking a training programme put together by an expert in tackling violence against women and girls.

Mr Reidy said in a statement: "We remain focused on the safety and wellbeing of our guests and will continue taking the actions necessary to strengthen the business.

"We will also continue to engage proactively and constructively with Government and the wider hospitality industry on the issue of safety and security."

(c) Sky News 2026: Travelodge boss Jo Boydell quits amid guest sex assault row