Jo Boydell has resigned as chief executive of Travelodge following a sexual assault that took place at one of the budget hotel chain’s properties.
The departure marks a significant shake-up at the top of one of the UK’s biggest hotel brands, which has hundreds of locations across Scotland and the rest of Britain.
Travelodge confirmed the news but has so far given little detail about the circumstances surrounding the incident or exactly how it connects to Boydell’s decision to leave the role.
The chain is a major presence in Scotland, with hotels in cities including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness, as well as a string of locations along major routes and in smaller towns. The company is one of the most recognisable names in budget accommodation and is regularly used by both tourists and business travellers heading to and around Scotland.
Boydell had been leading the company through a period of recovery and growth following the financial pressures that hit the hospitality sector hard during and after the pandemic. Her exit leaves a significant gap at the top of the organisation at a time when the budget hotel market remains fiercely competitive.
No further details have been released about the nature of the assault, where it took place, or whether any criminal proceedings are under way. Travelodge has not commented publicly beyond confirming the resignation.
The news is likely to raise serious questions about safety standards and procedures across the chain’s network of hotels, and will put pressure on the company to be more transparent about what happened and what steps are being taken in response.
A new chief executive has not yet been named.
Absolutely shocking. You’d think they’d have better security measures in place by now. Feels like a cop out just having the boss resign rather than actually fixing the problem though doesn’t it.