Nino Montagnese
Where were you born? In Toronto.
How long have you been in the business? 23 years! I’m aging myself!
How many people work at ACV? Just under 400. I have just under 100 – 43 in groups alone, which includes 9 direct reports.
How much do you travel every year? I’d say at least 1/3 of my time.
What did you want to be as a kid? Are you ready for this one? A dentist! I have no idea why.
What was your 1st job? Selling shoes at Diva at Bay and Bloor.
What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done? The waterslide at Atlantis.
Any guilty pleasures? I can eat ice cream any time of the day. I could eat a tub of vanilla in one sitting.
What’s your favourite airline? Without a question, of course Air Canada! Believe it or not, before I started working here, I’d never flown with them.
What do people not know about you? That I’ve been in a relationship for 24 years.
Any hobbies or interests? Going to the gym every morning. It keeps me sane.
When were you happiest? When we picked up our dogs. They are half Shih Tzu and half Bichon Frise – they are called teddy bear dogs.
What skill or talent do you admire in someone? I love watching people dance. I’m a horrible dancer – I have 2 left feet!
Is there anything you won’t eat? Believe it or not, even though I’m of Italian descent, I don’t like garlic! It’s horrible.
What’s your favourite place for a business lunch? Do I ever have a business lunch?! There’s a little Italian restaurant called Fiamma near here that I go to once in a while.
How do you spend your frequent flyer points? I shop. My last purchase was carry-on luggage.
If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be? Stop the last minute buying. We’re in a terrible cycle of purchasing 3 to 4 weeks prior to departure. If I had a magic wand I’d fix it all.
What kind of car do you drive? A BMW 328 IX
Do you have a favourite charity? The Cancer Society. I have too many people in my life living with cancer.
What will be the biggest challenge for the industry in the next 12 months? Overcapacity – plus selling our seats at good margins. Making sure all our seats sell for both the trade and ourselves.
What do you hope to be doing in 10 years? Looking for my retirement retreat. I’m gravitating to Florida – my parents and relatives all have condos there. I’m very family-oriented!
