Google "Travelodge Sleepy Bear" and you'll see that my 2013 post about the beloved bruin shows up first – thus demonstrating that a lot of people remember him and are wondering what he's up to these days.
The answer: not much. And for fans of the original bear, that's rather, uh, unbearable.
After a series of redesigns, by 2012 Sleepy had evolved into a largely unappealing character. Sleepy had lost his nightshirt and cap, and wasn't sleepy any more; he was tall and dopey-looking, wore a Travelodge vest and was now an adventure guide. His transition from cute, sleep-walking cub to his present grisly grizzly appearance was documented on the Travelodge website at that time.
Today, Sleepy is nowhere to be found on the Travelodge by Wyndham website. The Travelodge Wiki entry notes, "The Sleepy Bear mascot has largely been retired, but can be seen on some older Travelodge signs and is still used on some advertising."
Sleepy Bear does still appear on the Travelodge Facebook page, but all of the photos are from 2012. There is a short video from last year that seems to be a half-hearted attempt to keep him 'working.' Here's a screen grab showing how he looks these days.
4 comments:
I remember as a kid in the car and later when I was driving using the Travelodge sleepy bear as a landmark on where to turn on rt 57 to get to Detroit Rd.or Grafton/LaGrange area to play golf. Todd PS corporate redesigns usually miss the mark
Sleepy always looked more stoned to me than anything else.
I like the character, but in one of the postcards above a Godzilla-sized Sleepy Bear looks like he's about to stomp on the sunbathers.
It's a wonder that the newer modern version of Sleepy isn't wearing high heels and a skirt and lipstick in this new woke era that we all live in.Maybe a few tattoos and a bolt or two in his ears and nose.
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