Think twice before staying alone in a Travelodge

[MeridianB]

Just seen this on BBC:
How Travelodge in Maidenhead gave sex attacker key to woman's room - BBC News

I did search to see if anyone had already posted - apologies for any duplication.

Such an awful thing to happen and such a stunningly bad response from Travelodge - no accountability, no transparency of their security procedures, no apology.

Amazon sells travel widgets that jam the doors.

Time for a Mumsnet PR offensive-that will spread the word and hopefully lead to mass boycotts.

How thick do Travelodge have to be that, rather than saying their security will be given a total overhaul, they simply bleat that the security procedures were followed. Making a repeat event a certainty.

That is disgraceful.

I stopped staying at them after I had to endure a party in the corridor outside my room at about 2am. A stag and a hen do had combined forces post club kick out and thought they could continue the fun. I made the mistake of asking them to stop which led to the next game of knocking on my door for the rest of the night. In the morning I had to step over empty beer cans and vodka bottles as well as all the kebab/ fast food wrappers that had been just left in the corridor. Front desk or security could not give a monkeys.

This is not a siloed problem, and I've heard of similar things in other chains but TL's response is shitty.

However, it's also important to not lose our collective heads as the perp was known to the victim. That doesn't make it better, but I imagine random incidents are less likely. (Albeit, if there is a 'random' attack it seems to often be linked to hotel staff who can let themselves in, so it's always sensible as a solo traveller to think about how you can protect yourself with the aforementioned door wedges etc.)

You should not need to buy one for security in a hotel. It should be a basic requirement under Trading Standards.

Until there is basic security all Travelodges should be shut down.

As for a PR offensive, if you see an advert for Travelodges on tv or print media, complain to the Advertising Standards Authority. Somewhere as blatantly unsafe without any warning must be misleading advertising?

Poor woman. I know no amount of money will undo what happened to her, but I hope she sues them for every fucking penny they have

Until there is basic security all Travelodges should be shut down.

But it's not just Travelodge. I agree that it should be a basic requirement but as someone who travels frequently for work, both UK and abroad, I can hand on heart say most lack decent security.

I thought they had chains on the doors, but it's been a while. If I'm alone I do tend to put a chair under the handle if I'm at all uncomfortable. Not a travel lodge but one hotel had a corridor that opened onto an outside area that ran past my door. The staff left it open so they could nip out for a fag, hated that room!

Obviously, this is appalling

I used to have to travel alone quite a bit

I have a doorstop alarm. You can switch it on and leave it by the door when you go to bed. Might be useful for some posters.

Did you complain? Or ask for a refund? Did they apologise to you in ANY way?

I'll never stay at a Travlodge again in any case, but this is appalling.

The last time I stayed in one the room absolutely stank of piss. I went to reception and the guy said "yes, they all do on that side of the corridor". Apparently it was due to homeless people congregating outside, which I have every sympathy for. I spent 3 days sleeping with a tangerine on my pillow!

Sorry what do you mean “the perp was known to the victim”. What difference does that make?

If I go to a work do - I know my colleagues. That doesn't mean that they can request a key to come to my room after the event without my consent and then sexually assault me.

Can you clarify what you are saying because it doesn’t sound good at the moment.

The man got 7.5 years in jail for a reason
and he lied to get the key card.

Never mind not staying at Travelodge alone. I will NEVER stay in one at all ever, after this. What kind of company are they? Absolutely appalling - no decent regulation, no proper protocols, probably near zero staff training, completely unconcerned about women guests and their safety. No respect for customers. No way, ever. I am so angry about this. That poor woman, and then to be insulted with £30. I would throw it back in their faces. They deserve to go bankrupt.

Similar could have happened 20 ish years ago to a colleague in a Best Western where we'd been staying for a conference. Luckily, a male colleague had clocked the predatory man earlier in the evening and swapped rooms with the intended female victim "it's probably nothing, but just in case" so when predatory man let himself into her original room, he found a bloke waiting for him in the bed instead. He was from a different company, so the hotel contacted the company and made a complaint, but no police, no charges, and probably barely any consequences / deterrent. Male colleague in our company was treated like a hero. I don't travel much for work nowadays, but when I did I always tried to stay in Premier Inns, as others have said, their lone female traveller policy was reassuring.

"At the time of the incident our hotel team followed the correct security procedures. We continue to ensure our hotel and customer services teams are trained to follow our approved policies."

Why are they bleating on about following policy? The policy is obviously wrong!

There's loads of ways a man could know a woman's name, that doesn't mean he should be allowed into her room while she's sleeping. They need to change the policy so that if it's a single booking, the woman is contacted and asked.

I would contribute to crowdfund to sue them into oblivion for this.

Who’s losing their head?

It was a random incident. It doesn’t say this man was known to the victim simply that they were at the same party thus he knew her name.

Handy to know that if men hang around in reception and listen to women giving their names on check in they can later pass themselves off as her bf.

And letting any male predators know they are an easy target. Fucking hell. it’s appalling.

Right? I’ve just made the same point.

At a big work do you may know the names of your colleagues but that doesn’t mean you know them in any meaningful sense.

Thewre are various devices to prevent a hotel door beinbg opened. On Amazon and elsewhere.

What sexual predator isn’t going to make a beeline for them now?

Shocking, shocking, shocking. Definitely won't be staying in a Travelodge again. I always put the door-opening limiter on in hotels and have been thinking of a door wedge too.
The poor woman.

Going back 35 years ago, when systems were manual, overbooking was managed by knowing who was coming in and where from. Women were always guaranteed a room, as were those from companies that’d pay anyway. Many bookings had a 6pm arrival attached, the booking not having to be honoured after that time. I used to enjoy the cut and thrust and was paid a bonus for a full hotel with no drama.
Nowadays with prepayment or credit card guarantee I can’t see why overbooking is taking place. That smacks of poor administration to me, letting computer systems to do the job a professional used to do. I’ve never wondered why I left hotels…

My mother once got a note under her door at a Travel Lodge in b’ham from another guest staying there. It said that they had been allocated her room and key by mistake by reception - they came in and found her asleep and reported the mistake to reception. They didn’t think reception would tell her so thought that they should!