A woman who was sexually assaulted by an intruder given unauthorised access to her hotel room was "fundamentally failed" by Travelodge "at every stage", according to findings from an independent review released following a series of security breaches across the chain.
Barrister Paul Greaney KC, who conducted the inquiry, concluded that Travelodge's security arrangements at the time of the December 2022 attack at its Maidenhead location fell short of acceptable standards for guest protection. The review examined systemic vulnerabilities that allowed the assault to occur and assessed whether the company had adequately addressed such risks.
The investigation revealed that despite some remedial steps taken since March, guests remain exposed to preventable dangers. Data gathered during summer 2026 showed room intrusions occurring at nearly one in ten Travelodge properties across the network. Additionally, the chain operated without a formal policy addressing violence against women and girls, a significant gap in safeguarding provision.
Travelodge issued an apology "unreservedly" to the victim, acknowledging the severity of the failures identified. The company has since implemented changes to its security protocols, though the review suggests these measures came too late to prevent the assault that prompted the inquiry.
Context of broader security failures
The Maidenhead incident forms part of a wider pattern of security lapses at Travelodge properties. In August 2026, the chain's chief executive resigned amid mounting political pressure over hotel room security failings, with Ray Reidy assuming an interim leadership role as the independent review concluded its work. Earlier that month, a domestic abuse survivor reported that Travelodge staff provided her abuser with a room key, resulting in a violent attack. The chain subsequently outlined new security measures in response to multiple similar incidents. In another case, a couple staying at a Dundee property woke to find a shirtless man in their room after he was mistakenly given a key card to their door, prompting Travelodge to acknowledge that security procedures had not been followed.
What does the review recommend?
While the review credits Travelodge with implementing changes since March, it emphasises that these adjustments must be sustained and extended across all properties. The findings suggest that a comprehensive policy framework on violence against women and girls is essential, alongside consistent enforcement of security protocols to prevent unauthorised room access. The persistence of intrusions at one in ten hotels indicates that improvements remain incomplete and require urgent escalation.
Key facts
- An independent review by Barrister Paul Greaney KC found Travelodge failed a sexual assault victim "at every stage" at its Maidenhead hotel in December 2022
- Room intrusions were reported at nearly one in ten Travelodge properties during summer 2026
- Travelodge had no formal policy on violence against women and girls at the time of the assault
- The chain's chief executive resigned in August 2026 amid political pressure over security failings
- Travelodge has apologised unreservedly and implemented changes to security procedures since March 2026
