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.

"Industry standard procedures" must be meaningless then

A few years ago me and my partner stayed in a hotel in a seaside town, NOT a travel lodge and we was given the key card for our room, walked in and there was someone in the shower. They had their stuff all on the side, keys, wallet, expensive phone. We realised and quickly walked back out incase we got accused of anything and went back to reception to explain .

They wasn't bothered just looked back onto the system for another room. I found that a bit concerning. Luckily for that man we are honest and we didn't touch his belongings. Someone else it might have been a different story.

But if this had been a woman in the shower, it doesn't bare thinking about does it?

Oh I am so so sorry.. I hope that you are ok.

I can only think they’re so used to affair partners and FWB/ one night standers who join the person during the night (who has checked in) that this slipped under the radar. It must be really common for people to book these places just for sexual encounters.

Obviously it’s beyond horrendous, but may explain why they gave him a key?

I had a response from Travelodge

Thank you for contacting us, I have personally been asked to respond to you on the behalf of Jo Boydell.

We're very sorry for any worry or concern this has caused you, the safety and security of our customers is always our number one priority.

We agree that feeling safe and secure is an absolute priority when choosing where to stay. And would like to reassure you that our hotel teams are trained to follow industry standard approved policies.

We have apologised to the victim for the way the situation which occurred in 2022 was handled.

While industry standard procedures were followed at the time, Jo has asked the teams to carry out a full review of our room security policies to learn from this incident and further strengthen our procedures.

Please be assured that we are taking this very seriously and we hope to welcome you back to Travelodge again in the future.
Kind regards,
Melissa Portnall
Chief Executive's Office

Oh so it doesn't say the obvious, that they won't let people in again.

Just says they've been asked to carry out a review of it

Doesn't that seem really weird?

Thanks for sharing @TheWeeDonkeyFella

I think you’re right about the timing of this. Because the tenses in their email suggest the review is happening now. But Jo Boydell became CEO in May 2022 which suggests they did nothing then.

If they reviewed security immediately after the attack in 2022 they would have been able to say that last week when the sex attacker was sentenced.

It would be great if any journalists watching this can ask Travelodge how many attacks they had in last five years and complaints about people entering hotel rooms with duplicate keys.

Thanks at @MeridianB

Great suggestions re any journos watching, even better if someone would do a Which type cross-industry review so we could see which chains take extra security measures or staff training. Hotels may employ the odd bad apple/idiot which let the policies down, but having a proper focus or serious consequences for putting guests at risk would be at least a starting point.

"industry standard procedures" my arse!

Have also emailed the CEO.

I can recommend a fairly central hotel in Naples with a 24-hr desk if that helps? Our room was close to the desk (which anyone would also have to pass coming in) so could possibly give a layer of added security? Staff were helpful and the room was nice too.

Yep, Travelodge now struck off my list of hotels to use. If the incident itself wasn’t bad enough, their bizarre, piss poor response adds insult to injury. I’m also alarmed to hear about the double-booking situation, and wouldn’t want to be left stranded with no room.

When was it ever an “industry standard” to give a key to a random man on the basis that they knew the name of the female guest?

You call the room.

Another story in the news today. Turned away young women late at night because the staff refused to believe they were over 18 and wouldn't accept any of the ID offered. No "lessons will be learnt", no review of policy, zero fucks apparently given. Given what we've already read during this thread there does seem to be a massive blind spot when it comes to safety of women, and no desire to address it.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/mar/09/consumer-champions-travelodge-turned-away-vulnerable-women-late-at-night

MPs have asked for a meeting with the Travelodge CEO to look at their practices and hopefully the wider travel industry as shining a light on safety can only be a good thing, regardless of if you're staying in a Travelodge or a Radisson.

I've sent this link to my MP asking her to support too.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8xywd8rpjgo#:~:text=Travelodge%2C%20which%20offered%20the%20victim,that%20he%20was%20her%20boyfriend.

I’ve just read that article, @ThatAgileLimeCat, and it’s bloody unbelievable that Travelodge wouldn’t accept any of the photo ID that the young women did have with them, nor would it accept the mother’s offer to scan and send their passport ID pages.

Did everyone here know that Travelodge can demand to see your passport or driving licence before it lets you stay, even if you’ve booked and paid in advance? I didn’t.

As the journalist says, Travelodge needs to make this clear at the point of booking.

When I've had issues with my room, (holiday inn or premier Inn) they ask for other details. Always room number, my name and depending on the issue, first line of my address

Thanks, @TheWeeDonkeyFella. Funny how it’s predominantly women getting hurt by Travelodge’s and other hotels’ practices, isn’t it? I hope something comes of this.

I think a lot of women have horror stories about unsafe hotels.

I think the bottom line is that Travelodge are so cheap they know they can fill their hotels even with bad PR, so why bother trying?

Spot on @TheAutumnCrow, I can't imagine many men check they've packed a door stop when heading off on a solo trip or considering which is the heaviest moveable chair to stick behind a hotel room door.

Hopefully something good now will come out of these terrible experiences.

Oh thank you, that's very thoughtful of you. Yes please I'd love a recommendation for Naples. In fact I was going to base myself there for a few days and then move on to Salerno for the Greek temples at Paestum!

Naples gets a bad rep but I think it looks amazing, busy, a bit chaotic and full of life! - Obviously the noise won't bother ME 😊

Thank you so much again.

Thanks for sharing @TheWeeDonkeyFella

What a shit reply.

I will definitely be thinking twice about booking with them until they buck their ideas up.

I suppose it's possible that he could have shown them a message from someone who has the same first name - after all how many people do you have in your phone as their full contact details? Or he could have just changed the contact name of someone else to her name, so all the messages who were originally from 'Amy' would have looked like they were from 'Sarah' or whatever. Or he could have a spare phone/work phone, added that as a contact and sent a fake message saying 'come up to my room.'

Or they could be lying out their arses and there were no text messages.

TBH I think it's a red herring. If one person books a room nobody should be given a key, no matter how well they know the person. A woman escaping DV might go to a hotel, obviously her partner would have more than a few text messages from her and would know all her other details - he still shouldn't be allowed in without checking with her that she wants him there! It's so stupid because if someone has their phone and the person's phone number then surely it's much easier to say 'Well give them a ring and ask them to let you in, then!'

There are so many security risks - as pp have said he could have murdered her, but (although not as serious as what did happen) - if they're letting people have keys solely on the basis of knowing their name anyone could access the room while someone is out and steal all their stuff as well. So not even a woman/lone traveller risk but a risk to anybody.

TBH I think it's a red herring. If one person books a room nobody should be given a key, no matter how well they know the person
Oh, I know, I don't disagree. I meant I find that exceedingly thin as a justification, not that other justifications are fine.

On BBC news now. Glad it has gained traction.