Travelodge staff gave key to abuser

A domestic violence survivor reported that she was attacked in her London Travelodge room in October 2025 after reception staff handed her abuser a key. The woman, who remains anonymous, told the BBC she had booked the room as a 'night away from the fear' following a period of abuse. Her abuser entered the hotel, claimed his girlfriend was having a seizure, and was given a key and directed to her room. He then physically attacked her and attempted to grab her phone. He returned, kicked the door off its hinges, and became more aggressive. The receptionist did not call police or offer medical assistance, but offered another room. Travelodge apologized, stating that its room access security policies were not correctly followed and that it had strengthened policies and commissioned an independent review led by Paul Greaney KC. The incident follows a similar case in Maidenhead in 2022, where Kyran Smith was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after being given a key and sexually assaulting a woman. Freddie van Mierlo, MP for Thame, called for CEO Jo Boydell to step down, arguing that changes have not gone far enough.