Massachusetts Port Authority

Companies

Under the leadership of Tom Glynn and Board Vice Chair , L.Duane Jackson, Massport has established a new model for racial inclusion by requiring all Real Estate Developers that want to develop on public land in the Seaport have a definitive diversity plan as part of their submission. The Omni Hotel project selected on the basis of this new diversity model has Minority Equity partners, Co- Developers, a construction and Architect and engineer minority and women partners on the project. Lauded in the Globe Spotlight series on Race as the ONLY project in the Seaport that has ANY minority participation. The model is being adopted throughout the City and Massport should be saluted. Globe, BBJ and many other publications have saluted this new model.

MASSPORT issued the most comprensive and aggressive Request for Proposals in the city/state’s history – for the hotel site across from the Convention Center. In an unprecedented move, CEO Tom Glynn and the MASSPORT Board of Directors insisted that the RFP include a mandate that 25% of the submitting team should be comprised of minority and women-owned businesses, not only as consultants, but also as part of the core development team. This represents the largest percentage of minority and women-owned firms on any downtown development project.

A partnership of Omni Hotels and New Boston Hospitality was awarded the designation. The design/construction team will
reach 30% minority and women owned business, and two minority firms are on the development team.

Massport’s commitment to diversity and inclusion as reflected in their selection criteria for land disposition is deserving of recognition.