Hilina Ajakaiye is leaving Meet Boston for big role with national convention trade group
her roles at local nonprofits, including as board
chair of the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway Conservancy and a board member of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts.
Ajakaiye joined Meet Boston, the region's tourism marketing bureau, in 2020 as its executive vice president. It was a pivotal moment when COVID-19 decimated the travel industry, and as the world re-opened, she helped CEO Martha Sheridan reposition Meet Boston to better support the industry's recovery.
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Ajakaiye — a first-generation Ethiopian immigrant who understands how travel can provide economic opportunity — strengthened Meet Boston's connection to communities of color and helped spearhead the
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That's a key reason why the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals wanted to bring Ajakaiye on board – to build the pipeline of Black travel professionals and bring awareness to the size of the Black travel market
in the US,
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'There's a huge opportunity,' said Ajakaiye, who also wants to attract more Black tourists here from abroad. 'It's really a win and win for everyone. But a lot of folks don't know how to galvanize the community and how to make people feel welcome so that'll be my focus.'
This is an installment of our weekly Bold Types column about the movers and shakers on Boston's business scene.
Shirley Leung is a Business columnist. She can be reached at
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