We love it when Peekaboo clients have lots to celebrate – and that was certainly the case for Wendy Shand, family travel expert and founder of Tots to Travel.
The Wright Stuff Extra – Channel 5
This month Wendy flew back to the UK from France, to appear on The Wright Stuff Extra with Gaby Logan. Amongst other things she introduced a suitcase that doubles as a skate board to help commuters whizz through terminals and suggested that taking car seat on board a plane might be creating too much work for one caller.
As she left the London studios to catch her flight back to France, to rejoin the family holiday she received the news that she’d been named the Fab Women of the Year by parenting site Loved by Parents.
The accolade celebrates women that have come up with an idea for a business, as a result of becoming a mother.
Wendy founded Tots to Travel, an online holiday lettings company specialising in family friendly properties, after her 2 year old son fell into an unenclosed swimming pool whilst on holiday. She said: “I realised that there was a desperate need for parents to be able to travel with the peace of mind that there holiday rental would make for a relaxing family holiday. As a result, we visit and vet self-catering holiday properties in countries across Europe, ensuring that they are suitable for families with young children, specifically assessing safety and ensuring all the kit parents need is provided.”
Wendy, was naturally delighted to be named Fab Woman of the Year, added: “The competition was extraordinarily tough. My fellow nominees are truly inspirational women who have set up and are managing successful businesses as well as enjoying full family lives so to actually win the award is an honour and really quite overwhelming.”
And she joked: “And in case my husband needed reminding I can actually confirm my fab status is now officially recognised!”
Judge Laura Tenison, founder and MD of JoJo Maman Bebe, said: “I consider Tots To Travel the easy winner of this competition. This is the perfect business model for a juggling mum. Proactive work can be scheduled around a family’s needs and reactive work can often be delegated. Whist there are similar types of businesses, this one has an exemplary record for quality and attention to detail. It is a fabulous idea and I hope to see Wendy achieve her goals over the next few years.”
Tina Summers from Loved by Parents, added: “We were delighted by the calibre of entrants for this year’s award. Wendy stood out as an inspiring, motivating role model and all round Fab woman and we are sure that she will inspire many other mothers to reach for their dreams.”
Go Wendy!