FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
David O’Donnell | Meet Boston
617.536.4100
Jacqui Conrad | Conan Harris & Associates
jacqui@conanharrisassociates.com
MEET BOSTON LAUNCHES NEW SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PORTAL FOR PARTNERS
NectariQ software will enhance access to diverse small businesses
BOSTON (April 14, 2026) – Meet Boston announced today the launch of a new supplier portal to assist with their supplier diversity goals by connecting their more than 1,000 partners with a diverse range of small businesses and vendors.
The new and customized portal is the result of a collaborative integration with the existing CRM and NectariQ, a cloud-based software company that specializes in vendor procurement strategies and integrates with the existing CRM. Meet Boston worked in partnership with Conan Harris & Associates (CHA) to select and now onboard NectariQ. CHA is Meet Boston’s strategic partner in executing broader Workforce Development and Supplier Diversity initiatives.
The Supplier Diversity Initiative aims to expand Meet Boston’s network of industry suppliers to include more Black- and Brown-owned businesses, as well as companies owned and operated by women, veterans, and the LGBTQIA+ community. By diversifying the supplier base, Meet Boston and its partners will drive economic growth for communities that have been traditionally underrepresented in the travel and hospitality sector. This is central to Meet Boston’s mission to generate more equity and access points across the industry.
This supplier portal, in partnership with NectariQ, has fully launched after a beta testing phase with a small group of diverse partner suppliers. It features a database of diverse suppliers, thus enabling industry partners to act with more intentionality and purpose in their procurement processes. The platform is only available to Meet Boston partners.
“The year 2026 is a major one for Greater Boston with large-scale events like Tall Ships and FIFA World Cup coming our way – so many of our partners will need to hire suppliers and this is a perfect time to launch this initiative,” said Martha J. Sheridan, Meet Boston President and CEO. “At Meet Boston, we firmly believe that diversity is a key driver of innovation, productivity, and success. Equal opportunities for everyone are essential to a thriving tourism landscape. We also hope this sets a model for the travel and tourism industry, including other destination marketing organizations.”
This initiative was also informed and guided by a task force created in 2023 and comprised of organizations such as The Black Economic Council of MA (BECMA), Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Amplify Latinx, and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
“Meet Boston’s new investment in this innovative platform reflects a clear and intentional commitment to transforming how supplier diversity is operationalized across the hospitality and tourism industry,” said Conan Harris, CEO of Conan Harris & Associates. “By integrating innovative technology with a strong equity-driven strategy, this initiative expands access for diverse businesses and equips partners with the tools to make more inclusive, impactful procurement decisions. We’re proud to partner with Meet Boston in building a more connected, representative, and economically vibrant ecosystem for all.”
The supplier diversity initiative is part of a larger collaboration between Meet Boston and CHA, which also includes workforce development components. In 2024 the partnership produced the launch of the P.A.T.H. program, which stands for Promoting Advancement in Tourism & Hospitality, and the organizations also work together on an Annual Career Fair. This year’s Career Fair takes place on April 28, 2026 at the Westin Copley Place in Boston. “Ultimately, our work with Conan and team is about creating more access points to the travel and hospitality sector,” said Sheridan. “It’s not just one program or a one size fits all approach, but a series of strategic initiatives that ladder up to the overarching goal, which is to build more equity within the tourism industry and to cultivate it further every year.”
ABOUT MEET BOSTON:
Meet Boston is the primary private sector sales, marketing and visitor services organization charged with the development of meetings, conventions, and tourism-related business in the region. As a partnership organization, Meet Boston promotes and collaborates with over 1,000 partners in the greater Boston region and across New England to drive a robust visitor economy and to build equity within the sector. The Meet Boston mission is to elevate Boston’s vibrant neighborhoods and diverse people, amplifying their stories and sharing them locally and across the globe. Meet Boston delivers exciting and inclusive programs and services that enhance the local economy by unifying an eclectic range of community stakeholders around the opportunities, experiences and energy that define the destination and the visitor journey. For more, please visit: https://www.MeetBoston.com/.
ABOUT CONAN HARRIS & ASSOCIATES:
Conan Harris and Associates (CHA) connects community-based organizations with partnerships and resources from the non-profit, private, and public sectors. As a certified minority business enterprise, we offer a range of services that bridge the social, economic, and racial divide experienced by disenfranchised communities in health, education, housing and workforce development. Our work fosters inclusion, diversity and social change through services that include strategic planning, workforce development, community relations and engagement, executive coaching and training, and capacity building. Please visit https://www.conanharrisassociates.com to learn more.
ABOUT NECTARIQ:
NectariQ is a supplier intelligence and procurement platform designed to transform how organizations identify, engage, and manage their supplier ecosystems with automated workflows built in. Developed to support data-driven procurement strategies, NectariQ centralizes supplier registration, certification tracking, document management, and Tier I and Tier II reporting into a single, configurable environment. The platform delivers real-time insights and advanced analytics that enable organizations to align purchasing decisions with business objectives, strengthen local economic impact, and improve operational efficiency. With a focus on data accuracy, automation, and user-centric design, NectariQ empowers organizations to move beyond manual processes and elevate supplier management into a strategic function that drives measurable outcomes.
# # # #