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Society
Mar 30, 2026

Travelodge Boss's Failure to Meet MPs Over Sexual Assault Case Sparks Outrage

AI Summary
The CEO of Travelodge, Jo Boydell, has faced criticism for canceling a meeting with MPs to discuss a sexual assault case at one of their hotels. The survivor of the assault has expressed shock and disappointment at the decision.

A sexual assault survivor has spoken out against Travelodge's decision to cancel a meeting with MPs, calling it 'shocking'. The meeting was intended to discuss the hotel chain's security processes and procedures that allowed the assault to occur.

The survivor, who was attacked by Kyran Smith in December 2022, expressed her disappointment and frustration with Travelodge's handling of the incident. More than 20 MPs had demanded the meeting to discuss the matter, including details of the chain's security processes and procedures that led to it offering the victim an 'insulting' £30 refund after the incident.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer had written to Travelodge's CEO, Jo Boydell, saying he was 'very concerned' about the meeting's cancellation. He pressed the hotel chain to 'seriously engage' with MPs over the 'utterly appalling' assault.

The survivor told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'I think if you are the CEO of a company, then you have a responsibility to answer these questions and engage in that situation, and say how you're going to now improve.' She also expressed her skepticism about Boydell's claims that the hotel rooms had deadbolts, saying it was 'deflection'.

Boydell has apologized to the survivor and said the company had made immediate changes to its door key policy. However, the survivor is taking legal action against the hotel chain.