Travelodge CEO Jo Boydell steps down amid safety overhaul

Travelodge chief executive Jo Boydell has stepped down after 13 years with the hotel chain. Her departure follows intense scrutiny regarding the company’s handling of a 2022 sexual assault at a Maidenhead hotel, where staff mistakenly issued a key card to the victim’s attacker.

Kyran Smith was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison in February for the attack. Ms. Boydell faced criticism for her response to the incident, including the cancellation of a meeting with MPs, which prompted former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to urge the company to “seriously engage” with the government.

Chief financial officer Ray Reidy will serve as interim chief executive while the company searches for a permanent successor. Travelodge stated it is implementing a safety overhaul, including an independent review by Paul Greaney KC and new security protocols. These changes include requiring explicit guest permission for replacement keys and ensuring staff never confirm a guest's presence to third parties.