Travelodge CEO Joanna Boydell Resigns Amid Security Concerns; CFO Ray Reidy Named Interim CEO

Travelodge CEO Joanna Boydell resigned on August 17, 2026, amid scrutiny over security procedures at the UK hotel chain. The company confirmed her departure on Thursday and appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Ray Reidy as interim CEO while it looks for a permanent successor.

The resignation follows reported cases in which guests were given room keys without adequate verification. In one incident at a Travelodge in Maidenhead, a woman was sexually assaulted in December 2022 after a man falsely claimed to be her partner and obtained access to her room. He was later sentenced to more than seven (7) years in prison. In another case, a woman staying at a London hotel to avoid a domestic abuser was attacked after staff gave the man a key without confirming her identity or consent.

Travelodge has commissioned an independent review of its security procedures. The company has also introduced stricter rules for replacement keys, checked rooms for secondary deadbolts and started security training for around 12,000 customer-facing employees across more than 600 UK hotels.