Travelodge chief executive Joanna Boydell has resigned following a sexual assault on a female guest at the hotel chain's Maidenhead property. The incident, which occurred after a man was given a key card to the guest's room, drew criticism from then-prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, who urged Travelodge to engage with the government. Boydell's departure was announced on Thursday, with chief financial officer Ray Reidy taking over as interim CEO.

Travelodge chair Stephen Shurrock emphasized the company's continued focus on safety and security, stating they would work constructively with government and industry stakeholders. The company launched an independent review in March and has since updated its key card policies to require guest permission before issuing new keys. Travelodge, owned by Golden Tree Asset Management, operates 600 properties across the UK, Ireland, and Spain.

Boydell had previously apologized for the distress caused and acknowledged that the company had acted too slowly in addressing the incident.