On the Right Track: Railbookers’ Ivan Mansanet

Oh my god, there’s two of them.

You learn a lot about people doing these types of profiles; like the fact that Ivan Mansanet, National Sales Manager, Railbookers, has a twin.

“If anybody ever sees someone who looks exactly like me, but isn’t running over to you to say hello, I’m not ignoring you; it’s my twin brother,” he told Travel Market Report Canada with a laugh during an afternoon interview earlier this month.

Mansanet’s laughter is infectious — it’s probably one of his most recognizable traits, alongside his larger-than-life personality. He’s easily spotted in a crowd at conferences, where he’s often outfitted in a complete Thomas the Tank Engine train outfit. It’s clear that after three decades in hospitality and tourism, he still has a passion for what he does. And he noted that, in a way, his career has come full circle.

“Next year, it will be 30 years in the hospitality industry for me, working in many different areas, but I used to be a train attendant for international rail as well as a travel advisor for Viajes Iberia in Spain,” he told us. “So when the opportunity came with a supplier that was selling rail, I knew that job was for me.”

“All of my experience has given me the opportunity to better understand both sides of the industry. There are a lot of people with experience in the industry, but not many who have touched all of the points.

I understand how things are done and sometimes I’m like a support person too. That’s why I always say to reach out to me because I do have so much experience in the industry and I’m happy to help anyone, even if it’s not related to my job. I have plenty of information and I love to share.”

Mansanet is a self described devourer of information. He’s “always, always reading,” and that dedication and desire to learn drove him to get his Master of Arts in Tourism Management seven years ago.

“It was the hardest thing ever, though, because with my Spanish background, doing all the papers in English took me double the time,” he laughed. “But I finished with amazing marks and my dream for the future is maybe to become a teacher, I would love to share my experience in a college setting and was very close to working towards my Ph.D.”

A person key to his success is former Kevin Toth, General Manager Fairmont Hotels & Resorts who Mansanet views as his mentor. When Toth moved properties, he followed.

“I see him also as a master in the industry. There is always so much to learn, even with almost 30 years I still have so much more to learn. And it doesn’t need to be your boss, you don’t need to always scale up. It can be a colleague who mentors you in the way they do things. It’s important to have someone who you can share ideas with or listen to.”

As much as Mansanet brings his passion to Railbookers, it’s quite possibly topped by the admiration he has for travel advisors, suppliers and the people he works with in the industry; especially having been an advisor himself once.

“In this industry I think we have to work all work together. I think my passion for travel advisors has always been, since I started working in the industry, that we are on the same team. Even if there are issues or mistakes, we work together to ensure that consumers have the most amazing experience.

I’m a people person. I like to share my knowledge. That’s who I am.”