Hotel security: How safe are guests and what measures can be taken?

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The surprising case of a lady sexually assaulted in a Travelodge by an attacker who was handed a key to her room has drawn consideration to critical lapses in lodge safety.

The lady, who can’t be named for authorized causes, was staying on the lodge in Maidenhead, Berkshire. The attacker, Kylan Smith, informed reception employees he was her boyfriend and was given a keycard enabling him to hold out the assault.

He was jailed in February for seven-and-a-half years following the assault. Initially, the survivor was provided a £30 refund.

Travelodge has promised to enhance its procedures. However how can it have occurred, and what different dangers are there?

Was this an remoted occasion?

Sadly, not. The Travelodge chief govt, Jo Boydell, informed Good Morning Britain: “We’ve definitely heard of different situations, totally different to this one, when it comes to not keys being obtained by deception, however situations of anyone coming into a buyer’s room that they haven’t given express permission to.”

Natalie Wilson, senior journey author for The Impartial, stated: “I feel it’s very scary and critically regarding, particularly as a lady that travels solo. I feel folks’s most important concern with inns isn’t the facilities – it’s security.

“Every lodge appears to function in a different way. I stayed in a single in Cardiff the place you’re not given a key in any respect; somebody helps you to out and in of your room each time you come and undergo reception. A pal of mine, who I used to be anticipating, simply stated my identify at reception and the man opened the door with a key after which she was in my room. I used to be very stunned to see her.”

When a visitor checks right into a lodge, they’ve to simply accept that they’re sharing the property with a random collection of humanity. However each lodge visitor has the best to anticipate privateness and security of their room.

A minimal stage of safety at any lodge must be to confirm that the room occupant is anticipating a visitor, by calling the room or going to knock on the door. Limiting room keys to folks listed on the reserving who can present ID can be one other invaluable choice.

How frequent are these points?

In a high-pressure, customer-facing atmosphere, they occur extra typically than anybody would love. In every of the final two years, I’ve checked right into a lodge and been given a key to a room that was already occupied.

On the primary event, in Berlin in 2024, I let myself into room 509 to discover a rumpled mattress, casually strewn towels and half-consumed bottles. The friends had been out, luckily, and I used to be assigned a distinct room.

Late in 2025, at a sequence lodge in Manchester, I used to be given the important thing for a room that was already occupied. The gentleman who was staying there was stunned and livid after I unlocked the door – however he had put the bar throughout the door.

On every of those misassignments the lodge has been significantly busy, with employees beneath strain. In Manchester, the lodge turned out to be overbooked and I used to be despatched to a different property throughout the town. However this being the twenty first century, it’s shocking that lodge methods can permit a key to be issued to 2 totally different folks with totally different bookings.

Why are inns seemingly lax of their procedures?

There’s a basic contradiction between maximising safety and the hospitality business. Resort employees have a troublesome tightrope to stroll. They naturally wish to be accessible to friends, and so they wish to present pleasant and friction-free hospitality.

Lodges are by their nature transient, with typically tons of of individuals coming and going on daily basis. Nobody is aware of who precisely is a visitor.

When I’m out and about in a metropolis I’ll typically pop into the general public space of a lodge to make use of the wifi or the toilet; I’m at all times impressed when challenged, in a pleasant approach, to clarify what I’m doing there.

In my expertise, the posher of the lodge, the extra emphasis is placed on discreet safety: personnel shall be stationed on the public entrances, the CCTV photos of who’s coming and going shall be consistently monitored. There’s a counter view, which is that five-star inns are very involved to not upset their friends and so might not be as inquisitive as they is likely to be.

What safety procedures ought to friends observe?

Use no matter precautions can be found: a door chain or bar to cease the door being opened very far, and a impasse if there’s one. In any other case – and that is significantly helpful when travelling alone – an affordable rubber door wedge. They value about £3 and represent a invaluable line of defence.

Keep in mind that criminals can typically fake to be lodge employees. In case you get an surprising knock on the door, name reception to confirm the individual’s identification.

Is theft an issue in inns?

Sure. Thieves could wander unchallenged into public areas and steal from friends – even grabbing baggage as friends are checking in at reception.

There’s additionally the issue of stealing from rooms which might be occupied however the place the visitor is out. This may be as rudimentary as somebody asking a housekeeper: “Oh I’m in room 219 and I’ve left my key inside. Are you able to let me in, please?” Nearly each time such requests shall be real, however conscientious employees ought to make checks.

As well as, you shouldn’t put all of your belief within the lodge protected; as a primary precept by no means journey with one thing you’ll be able to’t afford to lose.