VillaKey is currently focused on Florida and Colorado, with about 1,200 homes on the platform.
VillaKey has completed the process of becoming a Certified Autism Center, which is a designation that demonstrates the organization’s commitment to ensuring their clients who have autism or sensory sensitivities will have the best possible experience. This is the first vacation rental company globally to earn the CAC designation.
VillaKey has helped families, many with children on the autism spectrum, book vacation home rentals for years, but they furthered their commitment to serving those clients by completing the CAC program, which includes evidence-based staff training, through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). As a Certified Autism Center, parents can rest assured when booking through VillaKey that their needs will be understood and VillaKey’s experts will guide them to the best option for their family.
“We know from experience how challenging it can be for families living with autism to find the right place to stay when they travel. We are excited to be able to offer our families the privacy, calm and sense of security that can only be found in a vacation rental home,” says Alice Horn, the CEO of VillaKey.
VillaKey is currently focused on Florida and Colorado, with about 1,200 homes on the platform. The company will soon be expanding to markets across the U.S., with a special focus on destinations and attractions that are appealing to autism families. In addition to the CAC training and certification, homes are hand-picked for the autism market and emphasize sensory-friendly decor, door chimes for security, fragrance-free cleaning products, and full kitchens for special diets. Service pets are welcome in the homes.
As a mission-driven business, VillaKey partners with select nonprofits to help families make vacation memories together. The company contributes 10% from every booking on its platform to the VillaKey Cares fund to help support travel expenses for families living with autism who may not have the resources to afford a vacation on their own.
For almost 20 years, IBCCES has been the industry leader in autism training for healthcare, education and corporate professionals around the globe. IBCCES recognized that many families with children with special needs have options and created programs specifically for those industries. In recent years, the popularity of “autism-friendly” options has grown; however, parents and families often seek out organizations that have completed additional research-based training or certification to ensure their needs can be met.
“Our Certified Autism Center designation is awarded to premier organizations around the world who have gone above and beyond to ensure their guests have the best experience possible. We’re proud to work with VillaKey to offer even better travel experiences. Training and certification are so important to make sure these families’ needs are met,” said Myron Pincomb, IBCCES Board Chairman.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
