ROCIO MANZANO, CEO AND FOUNDER OF THE PARIS FACTORY

ROCÍO MANZANO

“My degree in Tourism allowed me to learn and explore the different areas of this exciting industry. I specialised in digital marketing. Now I live in Paris and four years ago I started my project where I design tailor-made trips, lead private tours around Paris through its most atypical and lesser-known corners, and coordinate small group tours to other regions of France. I also create content where I show all these places.”
What motivated you to study tourism?
I had known for quite some time that I wanted to study tourism because, to be honest, I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I wanted to work in the world of travel and tourism, which is something I am passionate about. Once I started my studies, I learned about many other areas related to tourism that I loved and have applied over the years, such as sociology, marketing and market analysis…
How has your career developed since you graduated?
After my tourism degree, I took two master’s degrees in digital marketing, and I also had temporary jobs (6-12 months) in both multinational and family-run companies: car rental agency, wine tourism department of a winery, multi-purpose receptionist… I then decided to move to Paris, where I worked at Disneyland Paris to improve my language skills, and later in the Guest Experience department of a well-known Spanish chain in their hotels in Paris. All these jobs helped me to train, develop and give me the experience I needed to seek (and find) my own path in the world of entrepreneurship when I founded La Fábrica París in 2020.
What do you enjoy most about your job, any memorable experiences you would like to share?
I am incredibly lucky to have created a job that is practically tailor-made for me. I couldn’t love what I do more and I think it’s one of the best jobs I’ll ever have in my life: to show Paris through my eyes to all those who want to enjoy it in a different and less typical way. I love history, curiosities, discovering new corners of France and its surroundings, creating content, being able to make other people’s trips a reality and, in the process, being able to meet people from more than half the world doing what I love.
One of the most important things this job has given me (although every little milestone makes me very proud) is that last September, during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, I worked with the Spanish Paralympic Committee to organise and coordinate two events in Paris for two unforgettable evenings in a dream location.



