Happy International Women's History Month and welcome to the March edition of the CHA Newsletter.

Below, you'll find updates and information on the latest work done with Meet Boston’s Workforce Development and Supplier Diversity Initiative. 

CHA was a proud host committee member of the Roxbury Community College 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee held on February 24, 2024. The RCC Foundation (RCCF) raised $6.3M, exceeding their $6M goal, to fund student scholarships, student support programs, faculty academic endeavors, and innovation on campus. To view highlights from the evening, click here.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay informed about our work and the great things happening in our city!

-Conan Harris

Our team is working diligently with our task force members and hotel partners to prepare for another wonderful spring tourism season in Boston!

Hotels are ensuring that they have their teams in place and ready to go! The CHA team is helping them identify and secure diverse employees that are eager to enter the hotel and tourism industry.

The success of this initiative relies heavily on our hotel partners to commit to this pioneering endeavor to create change and sustainable impact in this industry, while also empowering the economic impact for our youth and future leaders of tomorrow.

Our roster of open positions continues to grow and additional hotels have joined forces to ensure they have a diverse, highly qualified workforce. If you know of anyone that is interested in opportunities within these sectors, please contact path@conanharrisassociates.com or submit an application.

P.A.T.H. PROGRAM

Promoting Advancement in Tourism & Hospitality (P.A.T.H.) is a dynamic career immersion program aimed at addressing the current shortage of diverse talent by filling these positions with culturally diverse individuals aged 18 and over, aspiring to build careers in the hospitality and tourism sector.

Click here to apply to the P.A.T.H. program or recommend someone you know would be interested in this initiative.

The Supplier Diversity Initiative aims to broaden Meet Boston's supplier network by incorporating businesses owned by women, people of color, veterans, LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented groups, fostering economic growth in marginalized communities.

Another critical facet of this work entails the assessment of the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms currently being used by Meet Boston partners to develop a platform that serves as a depository for important DEIB information.

Meet Boston is developing a user-friendly platform that will serve three purposes:

1. Easy access to the rich array of diverse suppliers in Boston.
2. Seamless categorization of suppliers and partners for searching, tracking, and reporting.
3. Integration with Meet Boston’s current platform to track contracts, awards and any additional financial details. 

This new CRM will ensure that we not only meet set goals, but more importantly, it will ensure that Boston’s diverse suppliers have access to contract opportunities within the hotel and tourism industry, beginning with Meet Boston.

Stay tuned for more updates on this CRM initiative!

We’re excited to introduce you to Task Force member Nicole Obi, President and CEO of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts. BECMA was formed to address and resolve the economic crisis of depreciating Black wealth in the city of Boston.

She joined BECMA in 2020 as the Vice President of Member Experience & Engagement, and previously spent 12 years at Fidelity Investments, parting ways with the firm as Vice President of Customer Strategy & Engagement in 2018.

Click here to learn more about BECMA.

Meet Boston Regional Career Fair

Tuesday, April 30, 2024 from 11AM - 4PM

Hyatt Regency Boston

One Avenue de Lafayette, Boston, MA 02111

Looking for a new and exciting career? 

Employers in Boston’s hospitality industry are looking to fill hundreds of open positions! 

Not familiar with the industry?

You will have an opportunity to build professional connections, network with employers, and hear from industry experts.



Register now!

We are excited to welcome two new organizations to our Community Partners!  The Cambridge Housing Authority and the University of Massachusetts Amherst will further help us identify, recruit and mentor diverse qualified candidates for open positions in the hotel and tourism industry in Greater Boston.

Host Site Partners will share their job vacancies to encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds. The initial placements will span three months, with the ultimate goal of transitioning individuals into permanent roles, while providing support throughout the process. In addition, we will offer a professional development series to equip participants with essential skills to thrive in the sector.

Our Host Site Partners include:

Hilton Seaport

The Envoy

The Hyatt Regency, Boston

Westin Copley Place

Fairmount Copley Plaza

City Experiences

Don Quijote Tours

Hotel Commonwealth

Hyatt Regency Boston/Cambridge

Boston Copley Marriott

Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton Boston Seaport District

Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy 

Old North Illuminated

Claremont Companies 

Boston Duck Tours

New England Aquarium

Boston Harbor Hotel

Lenox Hotel

Sonesta Hotel

YOTEL Boston Seaport

Meet Boston

Would you like to share your expertise and knowledge with the future workforce of the community?

We will be hosting sessions on the following topics:

• Effective Communication
• Time & Project Management 
• Leadership 
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Stress Management
• DEIB / Cultural Competencies

Contact path@conanharrisassociates.com to get involved.

If you missed our inaugural newsletter, click here to check it out.  We’re doing some amazing work so don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay informed about the great things happening in our city!

Thank you.

Conan Harris

Founder & Principal