Autism Travel Specialist
Autism Travel Specialist
Hi, I'm Nic Lander and I'm the owner of Willy Wonka Travel. I've worked in travel for over 30 years as a concierge in London. I won an Acorn Award aged 25 and I was the first concierge in the UK to receive this award, which is for young aspiring hotel staff and recognises the brightest prospects in the hospitality industry. I was also one of the youngest concierges to be appointed onto the executive committee of the Le Clefs d'Or (The Golden Keys) for Great Britain and the Commonwealth.
I have been very fortunate to be able to work alongside some amazing people and organise some amazing events as a travel agent for my clients over the years. Most notably the 2015 Rugby World Cup in the UK when I looked after 120 sponsors from South Africa for 2 weeks with events, transfers, accommodation and restaurants booked on a daily basis.
The reason for my slight change in career is that my daughter was diagnosed with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). As a family that likes to travel overseas, this got me thinking that the provisions offered in the UK are good but there is nobody looking after the families from a travel booking point of view, hence we started Willy Wonka Travel - proud to be different. Our mission is to make all types of travel accessible to people with additional needs. My firsthand experience of living with autism paired with years in the travel industry enables me to offer this unique service because I understand the details that make a difference.
In my spare time I enjoy going to the gym, playing tennis and most of all ... travelling! Please take a look around the website and do not hesitate to contact me to find out more about what I can do for you.!
Of 1000 autism parents surveyed by IBCCES, 87% said they do not currently take vacations as a family. 93% said they would if autism-friendly options were available. Travelling with autism and other special needs provides a set of challenges that are not widely catered for by larger travel agents. We are the only IBCCES certified Autism Travel Professionals in the UK and as a family-run travel agent with personal experience of facing the challenges of autism, we have a unique approach. Our belief is that everyone deserves to enjoy their dream holiday without boundaries, and we are very proud to be able to offer this service at very competitive rates.
Our sensitive approach to travel will make the experience relaxed, informed and all measures will be taken to work around individual needs. We have global access to unique services that accommodate autistic travellers, which would be difficult for an individual to arrange themselves.
As part of our specialised service we offer:
We are available 24/7 as your personal travel agent to assist with your queries every step of the way and with our full ATOL protection, you can rest assured that you are in safe hands.
Call us today to discuss your requirements and let us make your dream trip a reality.