Review finds Travelodge still at risk after 2022 sexual assault, cites widespread safety failings

An independent investigation into Travelodge, commissioned after a guest was sexually assaulted at the chain's Maidenhead hotel in 2022, has concluded the company failed the victim at multiple stages and that guest safety problems persist.

The 70-page report, published on Thursday, found complaints about unauthorised entry to rooms were recorded at almost one in 10 Travelodge sites during the summer. The review said the company’s systems and policies did not adequately protect guests and staff, and set out a number of required changes.

What the review found

• Investigators determined Travelodge’s response to the 2022 incident was inadequate and that the company did not protect the victim sufficiently at various points in the process. Both the BBC and the Guardian reported the review’s conclusion that the firm had failed the victim “at every stage.”

• The review recorded that incidents of people entering guests’ rooms without authorisation remained a problem this year, with room-intrusion complaints at roughly one in 10 hotels over the summer months.

Recommended changes

The report outlines several measures Travelodge should adopt to improve safety. Among them are:

• A dedicated company policy focused on preventing and responding to violence against women and girls.
• Strengthened procedures to protect staff who work alone, to reduce their vulnerability and improve incident response.
• The rollout of body-worn cameras for reception staff, intended to provide a record of interactions and enhance protection.
• The installation of consistent closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems across properties to improve monitoring and evidence gathering.
• Use of mystery shoppers to evaluate how well the company’s key security rules are being followed in practice.

Company response and next steps

Travelodge commissioned the independent review earlier this year after the 2022 case led to a conviction. The report’s publication is intended to guide the hotel chain’s overhaul of safety systems. The Guardian and BBC summaries of the review list the same package of recommendations, signalling broad agreement on the measures suggested.

Why it matters

The findings raise questions about safety standards across a major UK hotel chain and the effectiveness of existing controls designed to protect guests and staff. Incidents of unauthorised room entry are a direct threat to personal security, and the review’s recommendations aim to reduce risk and create clearer, company-wide procedures for preventing and responding to violence.

Independent oversight and follow‑up will be important to determine whether the proposed changes are implemented effectively and lead to measurable improvements in guest safety. The report sets out concrete steps Travelodge can take, but it will be for regulators, the company and campaigners to judge whether those steps are sufficient and enacted promptly.