Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
75,000 teddy bears left behind in hotels every year
This has got to be the saddest statistic I've heard in a long time.Just think of it--seventy-five thousand teddy bears wondering why they got left behind. Seventy-five thousand distraught owners. Seventy-five thousand hotel owners frantically calling Teddy Bear Protection Services to get the bears emotional support.
It gets worse.
The figure is only for bears lost and returned last year at one hotel chain--Travelodge. Granted it's one of the biggest budget chains in Europe with 380 hotels and 6.5 million guests last year, but think what the statistics must be globally. While Travelodge has made heroic efforts to reunite teddies with their families, it's obvious the UN needs to gets involved.
Faced with this problem Travelodge did a bit of research and surveyed 6,000 people about their teddies. They made the surprising discovery that teddies are popular with adults too. A third of adults go to bed with a stuffed animal, and 25 percent of men take teddies on business trips with them. Respondents said it's comforting to go to bed with a teddy, and psychologists say having a cuddly friend from home helps people feel comfortable in a strange place.
It's heartening to see teddies enjoying travel. Some bears even have their own blogs, like Travel Schlepp, who is currently in Taiwan and offers some good advice on what to pack when going to Asia this season. BBC travel correspondent Misery Bear tells of the dangers of visiting the beach.
Just remember, teddy friends, to check your bed before checking out. You don't want to leave your best friend behind.
Cute teddy photo courtesy user Mike R via Wikimedia Commons.
Filed under: Europe, Hotels and Accommodations
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Schmice Aug 25th 2010 1:23AM
We have a bunch of furry friends who somehow have managed to make every trip with us for the past 20 years. They don't eat much, they watch over the rooms and the car and are excellent conversationalists when everybody else is asleep. Is there a problem here?
Alouise Aug 26th 2010 4:00AM
25% does seem a little high for a statistic, I have a feeling it's not entirely accurate but I could be wrong. I work at a hotel and there's always lots of things that are left unclaimed. After a few months in storage whatever isn't claimed gets donated to the salvation army. So hopefully even the Teddy bears who are left behind get put into a new home.
Tigger Aug 31st 2010 4:30AM
I have had Jah for ever. My best friend, and favorite companion, he speaks volumes without saying a word. I nearly had to kill my worthless stepmother just to let him through the door. When he was with me on my death bed, I survived because I couldn't live a day without him. He has seen me through addiction, forsenic wards and jail. I owe Jah my very life. You might think he sleeps, but he wisely sees the truth and waits. I hope he gives his blessing to all of you. Sincerly, The Teflon Tigger.
Chupi Aug 31st 2010 11:49AM
Chupi Chupacabra, a fierce plush cryptid, travels the world with his master during overseas business trips. Chupi maintains his own Facebook page with photographs of his voyages to faraway lands like Mongolia, Bangladesh and Burundi.